Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.
Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes.
Analyze changes designed to improve the environmental performance of complex systems and avoid unintended negative consequences.
Conduct environmental sustainability assessments, using material flow analysis (MFA) or substance flow analysis (SFA) techniques.
Identify sustainable alternatives to industrial or waste-management practices.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSystems Analysis
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Industrial Ecologist pay by experience level
Entry level$54,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$66,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$85,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$111,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$145,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
8,500
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Industrial Ecologist salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
42,200 workers
$92,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
34,500 workers
$94,000
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
24,620 workers
$87,000
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
17,650 workers
$94,000
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
12,920 workers
$93,000
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
12,190 workers
$89,500
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
5,390 workers
$124,000
Educational Services
2,900 workers
$98,500
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
2,680 workers
$100,000
Scientific Research and Development Services
2,430 workers
$103,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Industrial Ecologist pays 5% below the average across 66 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,500).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Industrial Ecologist make?
The average base salary for a Industrial Ecologist in the United States is $95,000 per year, or about $45.67 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $67,000 and $112,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Industrial Ecologist pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
