AI Career Radar

Industrial Ecologists

Apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.

AI exposure22 / 100Low exposure

Based on O*NET work context for this occupation. This score does not predict individual job losses.

What drives the score

Automation and repetition raise exposure; freedom to set tasks lowers it. Each measure uses a 0–100 scale.

Degree of automation15
Freedom to set tasks85
Repeating the same tasks39
$82,220Median annual wage, U.S.BLS OEWS
+6.1%Jobs, 2025 to 2035 (faster than average)BLS Employment Projections
62Skill durability (moderate)Transferability, out of 100

How well your skills transfer

Each skill is scored on how well it transfers into occupations that are growing and less exposed. The ones high on both importance and transfer are worth deepening.

Highest transferability first

Both scores out of 100

Skills ranked by transferability. Both scores use a 0–100 scale.
SkillTransferabilityImportance in current role
Active Listening
63
75
Speaking
63
75
Critical Thinking
63
72
Judgment and Decision Making
63
69
Monitoring
63
53
Complex Problem Solving
62
69
Active Learning
62
66
Coordination
62
50
Reading Comprehension
61
78
Time Management
61
50
Show 25 more skills
Skills ranked by transferability. Both scores use a 0–100 scale.
SkillTransferabilityImportance in current role
Writing
60
75
Social Perceptiveness
60
53
Learning Strategies
58
50
Instructing
58
50
Systems Analysis
57
69
Systems Evaluation
56
60
Service Orientation
56
44
Persuasion
54
50
Mathematics
53
60
Science
52
66
Negotiation
52
41
Management of Personnel Resources
50
50
Operations Analysis
49
35
Installation
48
3
Quality Control Analysis
47
28
Management of Financial Resources
47
28
Management of Material Resources
47
28
Technology Design
47
22
Equipment Selection
47
0
Equipment Maintenance
47
0
Troubleshooting
47
0
Operations Monitoring
46
22
Repairing
46
0
Programming
45
25
Operation and Control
43
0

Compare how well you can use each skill in growing, low-exposure occupations with its importance in your current role. How we score skills.

Jobs you could move to

Compare related occupations by skill overlap, retraining effort, pay and projected growth. Choose a priority to adjust the ranking. Licensing requirements may limit some routes.

93/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$132,300
10-yr growth
+41%
Skill gap
15%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Service Orientation, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination

86/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$135,880
10-yr growth
+21.1%
Skill gap
11%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Monitoring, Negotiation

85/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$129,180
10-yr growth
+21%
Skill gap
13%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Monitoring, Time Management

84/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$166,570
10-yr growth
+9.7%
Skill gap
4%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Monitoring, Negotiation, Time Management, Critical Thinking

84/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$135,880
10-yr growth
+21.1%
Skill gap
14%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Service Orientation, Active Learning

83/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$123,860
10-yr growth
+24.2%
Skill gap
20%
Retraining
Moderate

Skills to build: Negotiation, Operations Analysis, Management of Financial Resources, Management of Material Resources

A second source of income, before you need it

This page can tell you where Industrial Ecologists could go and what the move costs. The other route is not a move at all: something small of your own, running alongside the job, started while there is no pressure on it.

Where to learn the missing half: Google Career Certificates for systems analysis · active learning, LinkedIn Learning for writing · speaking, edX for mathematics · reading and PlanetNoCode for complex problem solving. Some of those are affiliate links. It never changes what we list.

Snapshot: O*NET 31.0, BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025-2035. Scoring v2.1.0-onet-31.0. Method on the how it works page.