Industrial Ecologists
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Most of the work is analysis: mapping how products, processes, and projects affect the environment, often with material or substance flow studies. Proposed changes are checked so a fix in one place does not create harm elsewhere. Linear systems, where waste is discarded, get redesigned so leftovers become inputs for another process. Literature in physical science, technology, economy, and public policy stays current, and reports go to industry, government, or the public. Fits those who prefer tracing how whole systems connect and writing reports others can act on.
Typical education: Master’s Degree
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$82'220
Median Wage Market Position
$82'220
What you might do
- Identify environmental impacts of products and systems
- Design methods that reduce industrial process impacts
- Assess sustainability with material flow analysis
- Turn waste into inputs for new processes
- Find cleaner alternatives to industrial waste practices
- Write impact reports for industry and government
Skills that matter
- Material and substance flow assessments of industry
- Closed-loop redesign so waste becomes a new input
- Impact mapping for products, systems, and projects
- Lower-impact options for production and waste handling
- Environmental reports for industry and government
- Checking system changes for unintended harm
AI & the future of this role
System modeling, material-flow analysis, and efficiency recommendations are tasks AI might handle more readily over time. Cross-plant judgment and navigating real operational constraints still count, yet much of the analytical core looks relatively exposed.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details