Industrial Ecologists

Apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.

The median annual salary for Industrial Ecologists in the US is $80,060. The middle 80% of workers earn between $48,580 and $133,070 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $60,200 and $101,920.

The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 90,300 workers.

The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.

The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Science. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.

Our AI-durability model gives Industrial Ecologists a score of 0.49 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.

Industrial Ecologists has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.