Environmental Economists
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.
Tasks Include:
- Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
- Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
- 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.
- Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
- Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
- Develop environmental research project plans, including information on budgets, goals, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.
- Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0; US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection.
Projections Quick View:
Virginia: +15.7%
National: + 6.1%
Education
No Data
Job Zone:
Income Range:
Highest ($50,000 and up)
Average Earnings:
National
$99,350.00
State
$117,700.00
Regional
Environmental Economists
Description
| Career Cluster: | Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
|
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.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Environmental Economists
Tasks
Tasks Include:
- Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
- Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
- 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.
- Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
- Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
- Develop environmental research project plans, including information on budgets, goals, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.
- Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
- Develop programs or policy recommendations to promote sustainability and sustainable development.
- Develop systems for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting environmental and economic data.
- Examine the exhaustibility of natural resources or the long-term costs of environmental rehabilitation.
- Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.
- Write research proposals and grant applications to obtain private or public funding for environmental and economic studies.
- Write social, legal, or economic impact statements to inform decision-makers for natural resource policies, standards, or programs.
- Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
- Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.
- Identify and recommend environmentally-friendly business practices.
- Interpret indicators to ascertain the overall health of an environment.
- Monitor or analyze market and environmental trends.
- Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Environmental Economists
Tools and Technology
Tools Include:
- Calculators or accessories (10-key calculators)
- Scanners (Computer data input scanners)
- Desktop computers
- Notebook computers (Laptop computers)
- Mainframe computers
- Personal computers
Technologies Include:
- Analytical or scientific software
- Aptech Systems GAUSS software
- Camfit Data Limited Microfit
- Econometric Software LIMDEP
- Estima Regression Analysis of Time Series RATS
- General algebraic modeling system GAMS
- Global Insight AREMOS
- Insightful S-PLUS
- Minitab software
- Quantitative Micro Software EViews
- SAS software
- SPSS software
- StataCorp Stata
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Wolfram Research Mathematica
- Data base user interface and query software
- Microsoft Access
- MySQL software
- Development environment software
- C
- Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Electronic mail software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Internet browser software
- Web browser software
- Map creation software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Office suite software
- Microsoft Office software
- Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Word
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Environmental Economists
Special Requirements
Some entry-level positions for economists are available to those with a bachelor's degree, but higher degrees are required for many positions. Prospective economists need good quantitative skills.
Education and training:
A master's or Ph.D. degree in economics is required for many private sector economist jobs and for advancement to higher-level positions. In the Federal Government, candidates for entry-level economist positions must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 21 semester hours of economics and 3 hours of statistics, accounting, or calculus, or a combination of education and experience.
Economics includes numerous specialties at the graduate level, such as econometrics, international economics, and labor economics. Students should select graduate schools that are strong in the specialties that interest them. Some schools help graduate students find internships or part-time employment in government agencies, economic consulting or research firms, or financial institutions before graduation.
Undergraduate economics majors can choose from a variety of courses, ranging from microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics to more philosophical courses, such as the history of economic thought. Because of the importance of quantitative skills to economists, courses in mathematics, statistics, econometrics, sampling theory and survey design, and computer science are extremely helpful.
Whether working in government, industry, research organizations, or consulting firms, economists with a bachelor's degree usually qualify for entry-level positions as a research assistant, for marketing or finance positions, or for various sales jobs. A master's degree usually is required to qualify for more responsible research and administrative positions. A Ph.D. is necessary for top economist positions in many organizations.
Aspiring economists should gain experience gathering and analyzing data, conducting interviews or surveys, and writing reports on their findings while in college. This experience can prove invaluable later in obtaining a full-time position in the field because much of the economist's work, especially in the beginning, may center on these duties. With experience, economists eventually are assigned their own research projects. Related job experience, such as work as a stock or bond trader, might be advantageous.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Career VIEW Research.
Environmental Economists
Earnings Benefits
| Region | Entry Level | Average | Experienced |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $50,120.00 | $100,270.00 | $155,490.00 |
| Virginia | $57,660.00 | $117,700.00 | $183,410.00 |
| Region | Entry Level | Average | Experienced |
| Bay Consortium | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Capital Region Workforce Partnership | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Central VA/Region2000 | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Crater Area | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Greater Peninsula | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Hampton Roads | $53,364.76 | $79,503.06 | $94,578.16 |
| New River/Mt. Rogers | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Northern Virginia and Alexandria/Arlington | $72,274.31 | $131,647.81 | No Data |
| Piedmont Workforce | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Shenandoah Valley | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| South Central | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Southwestern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| West Piedmont | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Western Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection.
Environmental Economists
Employment Projections
| National | 2010 | 2020 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 15,400 | 16,400 | + 6.1% |
| State | 2008 | 2018 | % Change |
| Virginia | 471 | 545 | + 15.7% |
| Region | 2008 | 2018 | % Change |
| Bay Consortium | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Capital Region Workforce Partnership | 68 | 67 | - 1.5% |
| Central VA/Region2000 | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Crater Area | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Greater Peninsula | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Hampton Roads | 38 | 43 | + 13.2% |
| New River/Mt. Rogers | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Northern Virginia and Alexandria/Arlington | 293 | 345 | + 17.7% |
| Piedmont Workforce | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Shenandoah Valley | 14 | 14 | + 0.0% |
| South Central | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Southwestern Virginia | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| West Piedmont | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Western Virginia | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Workforce Connection.
Environmental Economists
View Videos
The following videos are available for this occupation:
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (4.20 Mb)
- Economists (4.51 Mb)
Macromedia Flash is required for viewing the videos. If you do not have the Flash plugin, it is freely available for download.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: New York State Department of Labor; New Jersey Department of Labor; California Occupational Information Coordinating Committee.
Environmental Economists
Titles
- Agricultural Economist
- Ecological Economist
- Energy Economist
- Environmental Economist
- Environmental Protection Economist
- Marine Resource Economist
- Natural Resource Economist
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Environmental Economists
Related Schools
- Bridgewater College
- College of William and Mary
- Eastern Mennonite University
- Emory and Henry College
- Ferrum College
- George Mason University
- Hampden-Sydney College
- Hampton University
- Hollins University
- James Madison University
- Longwood University
- Lynchburg College
- Mary Baldwin College
- Marymount University
- Old Dominion University
- Radford University
- Randolph College
- Randolph-Macon College
- Roanoke College
- Strayer University-Virginia
- Sweet Briar College
- University of Mary Washington
- University of Richmond
- University of Virginia-Main Campus
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia Military Institute
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Virginia State University
- Washington and Lee University
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.