AITakeover Tracker
34%medium risk

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.

Green New & EmergingHigher risk than 61% of occupations

AI Impact Summary

Environmental Economists faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 34/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 61% of all analyzed occupations. Of 20 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Information Ordering5%

High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Memorization5%

High reliance on Memorization is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Persuasion80%

Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Service Orientation82%

Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

AI-Augmented Skills (7)

WritingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningMonitoringSystems AnalysisTechnology Design

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Environmental Economists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

Courseraintermediate

Machine Learning Specialization

by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI

~10 weeks$49/mo4.9Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Mathematics

Estimated Impact

-7.6pt risk+$7K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Coursera

Creative Writing Specialization

by Wesleyan University

~8 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Writing

Estimated Impact

-5.6pt risk+$7K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Pluralsightadvanced

Design Patterns in C# and .NET

by Pluralsight

20 hours$29/mo4.6
Strengthens resilience: Complex Problem Solving

Estimated Impact

-2.1pt risk+$4K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

Bachelor's Degree7%
Doctoral/Professional Degree29%
Level 94%
Level 104%
Level 1157%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None39%
Up to 1 month4%
6 months - 1 year11%
1-2 years25%
2-4 years11%
4-6 years4%
6-8 years4%
8-10 years4%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None43%
Up to 1 month18%
1-3 months14%
6 months - 1 year11%
1-2 years11%
2-4 years4%

How AI Impacts Each Task

20 tasks analyzed

Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.

Risk: 52.0%AI: 62.45ObservedTime: 7%

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.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 7%

Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 7%

Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 7%

Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.

Risk: 29.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 6%

Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 55EstimatedTime: 6%

Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 6%

Write research proposals and grant applications to obtain private or public funding for environmental and economic studies.

Risk: 55.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 4%

Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 6%

Write social, legal, or economic impact statements to inform decision makers for natural resource policies, standards, or programs.

Risk: 55.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 5%

Develop environmental research project plans, including information on budgets, goals, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.

Risk: 85.2%AI: 90EstimatedTime: 4%

Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.

Risk: 49.3%AI: 55.83ObservedTime: 6%

Develop programs or policy recommendations to promote sustainability and sustainable development.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 55EstimatedTime: 4%

Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.

Risk: 27.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 4%

Develop systems for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting environmental and economic data.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 4%

Examine the exhaustibility of natural resources or the long-term costs of environmental rehabilitation.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 3%

Monitor or analyze market and environmental trends.

Risk: 85.2%AI: 90EstimatedTime: 4%

Interpret indicators to ascertain the overall health of an environment.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 3%

Identify and recommend environmentally friendly business practices.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 2%

Teach courses in environmental economics.

Risk: 29.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 5%

Protective Factors

Total protective discount: 29.1%

Essential Soft Skills

Traits that are hard for AI to replicate

Analytical ThinkingIntegrityInitiativePersistenceIndependenceInnovationAttention to DetailAchievement/EffortDependabilityStress ToleranceAdaptability/FlexibilityCooperation

Wage & Employment (2024)

Median Wage

$115,440

per year

Mean Wage

$130,910

per year

Employment

16K

workers

Wage Range

$62,340 - $212,710

10th - 90th pct

Wage Distribution

$62,340Median: $115,440$212,710
Career Planning

Explore other career paths

Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.

Subscribed — always updated

Recommendations

Skills to Develop

These skills are at risk from AI automation. Environmental Economists professionals should diversify beyond them.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Reading Comprehension

    High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Information Ordering

    High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Memorization

    High reliance on Memorization is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Skills to Leverage

These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Instructing

    Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Leadership

    Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Persuasion

    Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Tools to Adopt

AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.

  • Writing

    Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Critical Thinking

    Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Active Learning

    Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Monitoring

    Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

+0.5

overall change

Checking for existing plan...