As of June 2026, Industrial Ecologists has an AI-exposure score of 61/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Industrial Ecologists
More exposed than 70% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$82,220. About 8,500 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Science roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Build and maintain databases of information about energy alternatives, pollutants, natural environments, industrial processes, and other information related to ecological change.
- Monitor the environmental impact of development activities, pollution, or land degradation.
- Translate the theories of industrial ecology into eco-industrial practices.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of industrial ecology programs, using statistical analysis and applications.
- Identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.
- Perform analyses to determine how human behavior can affect, and be affected by, changes in the environment.
- Examine local, regional, or global use and flow of materials or energy in industrial production processes.
- Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.
- Identify sustainable alternatives to industrial or waste-management practices.
- Recommend methods to protect the environment or minimize environmental damage from industrial production practices.
- Develop alternative energy investment scenarios to compare economic and environmental costs and benefits.
- Conduct environmental sustainability assessments, using material flow analysis (MFA) or substance flow analysis (SFA) techniques.
- Carry out environmental assessments in accordance with applicable standards, regulations, or laws.
- Create complex and dynamic mathematical models of population, community, or ecological systems.
- Redesign linear, or open-loop, systems into cyclical, or closed-loop, systems so that waste products become inputs for new processes, modeling natural ecosystems.
- Analyze changes designed to improve the environmental performance of complex systems and avoid unintended negative consequences.
- Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes.
- Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
- Review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy.
- Plan or conduct field research on topics such as industrial production, industrial ecology, population ecology, and environmental production or sustainability.
Safer adjacent roles
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