From a booming $45.2 billion global market to the over 500,000 professionals tackling everything from PFAS to net-zero plans, the environmental consulting industry is not just growing—it's fundamentally reshaping how the world builds, complies, and innovates for a sustainable future.
Key Takeaways
- The global environmental consulting services market size was valued at USD 45.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2024 to 2030.
- In the US, the environmental consulting industry market size reached $12.4 billion in 2023 with a 4.5% annual growth rate over the past five years.
- Europe's environmental consulting market is expected to expand from €28.5 billion in 2022 to €42.3 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 7.1%.
- The environmental consulting industry in the US employed 142,000 people as of 2023.
- Global environmental consultants number over 500,000 professionals in 2023.
- In the UK, 28,500 people were employed in environmental consultancy in 2023.
- The average revenue per employee in US environmental consulting was $87,300 in 2023.
- Global environmental consulting industry profit margin averaged 12.4% in 2023.
- Top 50 US environmental consulting firms generated $25.6 billion in revenue in 2023.
- Environmental site assessment services dominate with 32% market share globally.
- Remediation and cleanup services account for 28% of US environmental consulting revenue in 2023.
- Sustainability and ESG advisory services grew to 22% segment share in Europe 2023.
- The industry is shifting towards digital transformation with AI integration in 68% of projects by 2025.
- ESG regulations drive 45% increase in demand for sustainability reporting services through 2030.
- Net-zero commitments by clients boost climate consulting by 12% CAGR to 2030.
The environmental consulting industry is growing globally, driven by climate action and new regulations.
Employment and Workforce
- The environmental consulting industry in the US employed 142,000 people as of 2023.
- Global environmental consultants number over 500,000 professionals in 2023.
- In the UK, 28,500 people were employed in environmental consultancy in 2023.
- Canada’s environmental consulting workforce totaled 25,400 in 2023.
- Australia had 18,200 environmental consultants employed in 2023.
- Europe's environmental consulting sector employs 250,000 specialists as of 2023.
- US environmental engineers in consulting: 52,000 jobs in 2023.
- India’s environmental consulting firms employ 45,000 professionals in 2023.
- Germany's environmental consulting workforce: 85,000 in 2023.
- China employs 120,000 in environmental consulting services in 2023.
- Brazil's sector has 22,000 environmental consultants in 2023.
- France: 32,000 employed in environmental consulting in 2023.
- Japan's environmental consulting jobs: 45,000 in 2023.
- South Africa: 8,500 environmental consultants in 2023.
- Average salary for US environmental consultants: $85,000 annually in 2023.
- 65% of environmental consultants in Europe hold master's degrees or higher in 2023.
- Women represent 42% of the environmental consulting workforce in the US (2023).
- Asia-Pacific environmental consulting employment growth: 7.5% YoY in 2023.
- Top 10 US firms employ 35% of total industry workforce (2023).
- Remote work adoption in environmental consulting: 28% full-time in 2023.
- Entry-level environmental consultant jobs grew 12% in US 2022-2023.
- Latin America environmental consulting workforce: 35,000 in 2023.
- Average tenure in environmental consulting: 6.2 years (US 2023).
- 15% of environmental consultants are certified professionals (e.g., CEP) in US.
- Middle East hires 5,200 new environmental consultants annually.
- Nordic environmental consulting employment: 45,000 in 2023.
- Turnover rate in environmental consulting: 11.5% (global 2023).
- 72% of firms report workforce shortages in specialized areas like ESG (2023).
- US environmental consulting firms average 150 employees per firm (2023).
- Global freelance environmental consultants: 50,000 active in 2023.
- UK apprenticeship programs in environmental consulting doubled to 2,500 in 2023.
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
It seems the planet now has a standing army of over half a million professionals, with the U.S. supplying the largest battalion, all dedicated to cleaning up our messes, interpreting regulations, and trying to prevent new ones—so perhaps we should all pay our environmental invoices on time.
Industry Trends & Future Outlook
- The industry is shifting towards digital transformation with AI integration in 68% of projects by 2025.
- ESG regulations drive 45% increase in demand for sustainability reporting services through 2030.
- Net-zero commitments by clients boost climate consulting by 12% CAGR to 2030.
- PFAS regulations expected to create $5B new remediation market by 2028.
- Biodiversity credits market projected to reach $50B by 2030, spurring consulting.
- 82% of firms adopting remote sensing drones for site assessments in 2024.
- EU Green Deal to generate €1 trillion in environmental consulting opportunities by 2030.
- AI and machine learning in predictive environmental modeling adopted by 55% firms 2023.
- Scope 3 emissions tracking consulting demand up 30% YoY 2023.
- Circular economy projects expected to triple consulting revenue by 2028.
- 60% growth in nature-based solutions consulting post-COP15.
- Blockchain for carbon credit verification in 25% of projects by 2025.
- Water scarcity drives 15% CAGR in water consulting to 2030.
- 70% of firms predict regulatory tightening on plastics by 2025.
- Just transition consulting for energy sector: $2B market by 2030.
- Satellite data analytics for deforestation monitoring up 40% adoption.
- 90% of large firms integrating BIM for environmental planning 2024.
- Methane emission reduction consulting surges 28% post-Global Methane Pledge.
- Urban heat island mitigation services to grow 18% annually.
- 55% firms shifting to subscription-based advisory models.
- Quantum computing pilots for climate modeling in 10% top firms by 2027.
- 65% increase in biodiversity net gain consulting UK post-2024 mandate.
- EV infrastructure environmental assessments: 20% segment growth.
- Regenerative agriculture consulting market to $1.5B by 2030.
- 75% of projects now include social impact assessments.
- Hyperspectral imaging for contamination detection: 35% adoption rise.
- Global plastic treaty to spur $10B compliance consulting by 2030.
- 48% firms report metaverse/VR for stakeholder engagement pilots.
- Blue carbon credits consulting emerging with 25% YoY growth.
Industry Trends & Future Outlook Interpretation
The environmental consulting industry is rapidly evolving from a field of quiet study to a high-stakes digital arena, where drones map PFAS plumes, AI models race against climate deadlines, and the very language of value is being rewritten in carbon credits and biodiversity units, all while consultants hustle to translate a blizzard of new regulations into actionable plans for a planet that can’t wait.
Key Services and Segments
- Environmental site assessment services dominate with 32% market share globally.
- Remediation and cleanup services account for 28% of US environmental consulting revenue in 2023.
- Sustainability and ESG advisory services grew to 22% segment share in Europe 2023.
- Air quality monitoring and modeling: 15% of global services revenue 2023.
- Water resource management consulting: 18% US market segment 2023.
- Climate change adaptation services: 12% growth, 10% share globally 2023.
- Phase I ESA reports: over 250,000 conducted annually in US.
- NEPA compliance services: 25% of federal project consulting.
- Brownfields redevelopment consulting: 14% segment in urban areas.
- Permitting and compliance services: 20% revenue share Australia 2023.
- Biodiversity and ecosystem services: 8% emerging segment globally.
- Noise and vibration consulting: 5% niche but growing 9% YoY.
- Waste management optimization: 16% in Asia-Pacific 2023.
- Energy efficiency audits: 11% share in commercial buildings US.
- Soil contamination assessment: 19% of remediation services.
- Carbon footprint analysis: 17% of sustainability services 2023.
- EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) services: 30% Europe market.
- Groundwater modeling: 13% hydrogeology segment share.
- Stormwater management consulting: 9% urban planning share US.
- Renewable energy site assessments: 7% rising segment 2023.
- Hazardous materials management: 21% industrial client services.
- Wetland delineation and mitigation: 6% regulatory services US.
- PFAS contamination consulting: 4% but 25% growth 2023.
- Decommissioning services for oil/gas: 10% energy sector share.
- Green building certification (LEED): 12% architecture consulting.
- Marine environmental surveys: 5% offshore segment global.
- Circular economy consulting: 3% innovative segment 2023.
- Noise pollution modeling: 4.5% urban development services.
- 75% of firms offer multi-disciplinary services including remediation and compliance in 2023.
- Digital twin modeling for environmental impact: 2% emerging tech segment.
Key Services and Segments Interpretation
The environmental consulting industry, it seems, spends a third of its time figuring out what we broke, another third cleaning it up, and the last third nervously advising on how to avoid breaking it all over again.
Market Size and Growth
- The global environmental consulting services market size was valued at USD 45.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2024 to 2030.
- In the US, the environmental consulting industry market size reached $12.4 billion in 2023 with a 4.5% annual growth rate over the past five years.
- Europe's environmental consulting market is expected to expand from €28.5 billion in 2022 to €42.3 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 7.1%.
- Asia-Pacific environmental consulting market grew by 8.2% in 2023, reaching $10.8 billion, driven by rapid urbanization.
- The US environmental engineering consulting segment was valued at $9.1 billion in 2022, with a projected CAGR of 5.3% through 2030.
- Global sustainability consulting market within environmental services hit $15.6 billion in 2023, forecasted to reach $28.4 billion by 2032.
- Canada's environmental consulting industry revenue grew 3.8% to CAD 2.9 billion in 2023.
- The Middle East environmental consulting market size was $2.1 billion in 2023, expected to grow at 9.5% CAGR to 2030.
- Latin America's environmental consulting sector reached $1.8 billion in 2022, with 6.2% growth projected annually.
- Australia's environmental consulting market expanded to AUD 3.2 billion in 2023, up 5.1% from prior year.
- The remediation services sub-market in environmental consulting was $6.7 billion globally in 2023.
- US water and wastewater consulting market size stood at $4.3 billion in 2023.
- Global climate change consulting market valued at $8.9 billion in 2023, CAGR 7.9% to 2030.
- India's environmental consulting industry grew to INR 45 billion in FY2023, at 10.2% YoY.
- UK environmental consultancy market size was £4.1 billion in 2023, projected 4.8% CAGR.
- The air quality consulting segment globally reached $3.5 billion in 2023.
- Brazil's environmental consulting market hit BRL 12.5 billion in 2023.
- South Africa's environmental services consulting revenue was ZAR 18 billion in 2023.
- Japan's environmental consulting market size: JPY 1.2 trillion in 2023, 3.9% growth.
- China's environmental consulting industry valued at CNY 250 billion in 2023.
- Global ESG consulting market within environmental reached $12.3 billion in 2023.
- France environmental consulting market: €5.6 billion in 2023.
- Germany's market size for environmental consulting: €18.4 billion in 2022.
- Singapore's environmental consulting sector: SGD 1.1 billion in 2023.
- Mexico environmental consulting market grew to MXN 35 billion in 2023.
- Global brownfield redevelopment consulting: $2.4 billion in 2023.
- US NEPA compliance consulting market: $1.9 billion annually.
- International environmental consulting exports from US: $3.2 billion in 2022.
- Nordic countries environmental consulting market: €9.2 billion in 2023.
- Southeast Asia environmental consulting: $4.7 billion in 2023.
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
The world is paying a rapidly growing fortune, to the tune of tens of billions, for expert advice on how to stop cleaning up our increasingly expensive mess.
Revenue and Financial Metrics
- The average revenue per employee in US environmental consulting was $87,300 in 2023.
- Global environmental consulting industry profit margin averaged 12.4% in 2023.
- Top 50 US environmental consulting firms generated $25.6 billion in revenue in 2023.
- EBITDA margins for environmental consulting firms averaged 18.2% in Europe 2023.
- Average billing rate for environmental consultants in US: $175/hour in 2023.
- Australia's environmental consulting industry total revenue: AUD 3.2 billion, profit 10.8%.
- Cost of goods sold as % of revenue: 25.3% in US environmental consulting 2023.
- M&A activity in environmental consulting: $4.2 billion deal value globally 2023.
- Revenue growth for sustainability consulting: 9.1% YoY global 2023.
- UK firms' average revenue per consultant: £120,000 in 2023.
- Return on assets for US environmental consultants: 15.7% in 2023.
- Project-based revenue accounts for 68% of total industry revenue globally.
- India's environmental consulting revenue per firm average: INR 150 million 2023.
- Debt to revenue ratio: 0.42 for average US firm in 2023.
- 22% revenue growth in climate risk consulting segment 2023.
- Canada industry wages as % of revenue: 42.1% in 2023.
- Global top firm's revenue: AECOM $14.4 billion environmental segment 2023.
- Utilization rate for consultants: 72% average in 2023.
- Revenue from government contracts: 35% of US total in 2023.
- Net profit after tax margin: 8.9% Europe average 2023.
- Private equity investment in sector: $1.8 billion 2023.
- Revenue concentration: top 4 firms hold 28% US market 2023.
- Cash flow to revenue: 11.2% global average 2023.
- Brazil consulting revenue growth: 7.3% to BRL 12.5B 2023.
- Inventory turnover ratio: 45 times/year US firms 2023.
- ESG reporting services revenue: $3.1B global 2023.
- Remediation project margins: 14.5% average 2023.
- Asia-Pacific revenue share: 24% of global total 2023.
- Hazardous waste consulting revenue: $2.9B US 2023.
Revenue and Financial Metrics Interpretation
Despite healthy revenue streams and surging demand for ESG and climate expertise, environmental consultants are navigating a fiercely competitive landscape where significant M&A activity and high concentration at the top squeeze the average firm's profit down to a razor-thin, single-digit margin, proving that saving the planet is good business, but not necessarily a gold mine.
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