Occupation Summary

Environmental Economists

O*NET 19-3011.01

Description:

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

Annual Wages:
$122,402.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 17.06%.
Education Level:
Doctoral Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
  2. Monitor or analyze market and environmental trends.
  3. Interpret indicators to ascertain the overall health of an environment.
  4. Identify and recommend environmentally friendly business practices.
  5. Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.
  6. Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
  7. Write social, legal, or economic impact statements to inform decision makers for natural resource policies, standards, or programs.
  8. Write research proposals and grant applications to obtain private or public funding for environmental and economic studies.
  9. Examine the exhaustibility of natural resources or the long-term costs of environmental rehabilitation.
  10. Develop systems for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting environmental and economic data.
  11. Develop environmental research project plans, including information on budgets, goals, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.
  12. Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
  13. Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
  14. Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.
  15. Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
  16. Conduct research on economic and environmental topics, such as alternative fuel use, public and private land use, soil conservation, air and water pollution control, and endangered species protection.
  17. Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
  18. Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
  19. Develop programs or policy recommendations to promote sustainability and sustainable development.
  20. Teach courses in environmental economics.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Environmental Economists employed Annual Growth Rate
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 19.7 1.84
Scientific research and development services 10.6 0.00
Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations 3.6 0.00
Other professional, scientific, and technical services 3.1 1.84
Colleges, universities, and professional schools 2.1 0.00


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $58.85
2024 National average hourly wage $62.94
2022 National employment 17,600
2022 Texas employment 469
Texas projected employment by 2032 549
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 39




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
93.40%
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
88.20%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
79.20%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
74.00%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
63.80%
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
61.40%
Geography
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
49.60%
Sociology and Anthropology
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
47.60%
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
47.40%
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
45.40%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
82.40%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
80.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
80.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
80.00%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
77.60%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
72.40%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
72.40%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
70.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
70.00%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
85.00%
Mathematical Reasoning
The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
82.40%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
77.60%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
77.60%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
77.60%
Number Facility
The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
77.60%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
77.60%


  • Analyzing Data or Information
    -- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Working with Computers
    -- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Processing Information
    -- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    -- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.



Tools

Desktop calculator: 10-key calculators;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Mainframe computers: Mainframe computers;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Scanners: Computer data input scanners;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Aptech Systems GAUSS; Camfit Data Limited Microfit; Econometric Software LIMDEP; Estima Regression Analysis of Time Series RATS; Global Insight AREMOS; IBM SPSS Statistics; Insightful S-PLUS; General algebraic modeling system GAMS; Quantitative Micro Software EViews; SAS; StataCorp Stata; Minitab; The MathWorks MATLAB; Wolfram Research Mathematica;

Business intelligence and data analysis software: Tableau;

Data base user interface and query software: MySQL; Structure query language SQL; Microsoft SQL Server; Microsoft Access;

Development environment software: Formula translation/translator FORTRAN; C; Microsoft Visual Basic; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA; Microsoft Visual Studio;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Geographic information system: Geographic information system GIS software; ESRI ArcGIS software;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Object or component oriented development software: Python; C#; C++;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Environmental Economists include:
  • 11-1011.03 Chief Sustainability Officers
  • 19-2041.01 Climate Change Policy Analysts
  • 15-2051.00 Data Scientists
  • 25-1063.00 Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
  • 19-3011.00 Economists
  • 19-2041.02 Environmental Restoration Planners
  • 19-2041.00 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
  • 19-2042.00 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
  • 19-2041.03 Industrial Ecologists
  • 15-2041.00 Statisticians


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about economists, visit: American Economic Association
  • For information about careers in business economics, visit: National Association for Business Economics
  • To find job openings for economists in the federal government, visit: USAJOBS
  • Economists
  • Environmental Economists

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.