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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.

How does this connect to your interests? →

A look at the work

  • Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
  • 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.
  • Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
  • Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
  • Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
  • Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
  • Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
  • Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.

A selection of source-listed tasks; duties vary by role and employer.

Interests involved in this work

These source scores describe occupational work activities. They are separate from your personal test results.

Hands-on

2023-11 · Machine Learning

2.7 / 7

Investigative

2023-11 · Machine Learning

7.0 / 7

Creative

2023-11 · Machine Learning

2.5 / 7

Helping people

2023-11 · Machine Learning

2.3 / 7

Enterprising

2023-11 · Machine Learning

4.1 / 7

Organizing

2023-11 · Machine Learning

4.1 / 7

Skills to explore

Source-reported importance on a 1–5 scale. Try a course, project or conversation to learn what these skills involve.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

2020-08

4.1 / 5

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.

2020-08

4.0 / 5

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

2020-08

4.0 / 5

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

2020-08

4.0 / 5

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

2020-08

4.0 / 5

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

2020-08

3.9 / 5

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

2020-08

3.6 / 5

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

2020-08

3.6 / 5

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

2020-08

3.5 / 5

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

2020-08

3.5 / 5

Plan a small next step

Talk to someone doing this work, look for a supervised activity, and explore the subjects that interest you. Admission, licensing and current program requirements should be confirmed with the relevant institutions.

Source preparation category: Job Zone 5 of 5 · 2020-08. This category describes typical preparation, not your eligibility.

Related study fields

Source crosswalk connections are research leads, not required qualifications.

Agricultural Economics →

Environmental/Natural Resource Economics →

Financial Mathematics →

Economics and Computer Science →

Economics and Foreign Language/Literature →

Mathematical Economics →

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics →

Economics, General →

Applied Economics →

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics →

Development Economics and International Development →

International Economics →

Explore all related study fields →

Source & methodology

O*NET-SOC code 19-3011.01 · Database 31.0 · Retrieved Oct 14, 2026. Dates on individual observations describe their source periods.

How interest exploration matching works →

Data: O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0. StudyIndex normalizes the presentation and adds exploration features; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions.