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Environmental Consulting in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Dmitry Diment Dmitry Diment New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS 54162

Revenue

$23.7bn

2024

$23.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

154k

Businesses

61,638

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Environmental Consulting in the US industry analysis

Revenue for the Environmental Consulting industry has been volatile. While increasing concerns about environmental sustainability have benefited the industry, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic weakened nonresidential construction activity, placing downward pressure on revenue. Although residential spending continued to grow, rising interest rates in response to inflationary pressures have further stunted the industry’s expansion. Consequently, industry revenue is forecast to decline at a CAGR of 0.2% to $23.7 billion over the five years to 2024, even as revenue is projected to rebound by 2.8% in 2024. Still, industry profit has remained steady, expanding to 9.5% of revenue in 2024.

Trends and Insights

  • The Biden Administration's numerous actions on the environment amplify the importance of regulatory compliance. Businesses must now navigate a more complex landscape, increasing the need for expert environmental consultants.
  • The government forms a critical demand base for environmental consultants. Local, state and federal agencies consistently require these services, ensuring steady demand regardless of market fluctuations.
  • Construction, agriculture, and manufacturing heavily influence where environmental consultants are located. These markets determine the geographic distribution of companies, aligning consultants with regions that have the highest demand for their services.
  • Environmental consulting companies often strike a balance between diversification and specialization. Diversifying their range of services makes firms more resilient to market fluctuations and changes in client demands, ensuring continuous growth.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $23.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

COVID-19's varied consequences

  • Demand for environmental consulting services faltered amid sluggish government spending, the single-largest industry funding source. Budget priorities shifted towards COVID-19 recovery efforts through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, funding for new environmental consulting services declined in 2020 and 2021.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Environmental Consulting in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Investors and consumers demand companies go green

  • With more significant measures being taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and increasing pressure from investors and consumers, companies in many industries strive to remain ahead of regulatory changes. This increased emphasis on environmental sustainability is anticipated to support industry revenue growth over the next five years.

Biggest companies in the Environmental Consulting in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Aecom
10,579.7
644.0
6.1
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
6,909.0
253.0
3.7
Tetra Tech, inc.
3,325.4
356.8
10.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Environmental Consulting in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Environmental assessments, Environmental audits and Site remediation planning services. Environmental assessments is the largest segment of the Environmental Consulting in the US.

Trends and Insights

Increasingly stringent environmental regulations raise the need for environmental assessments

  • Environmental consultants conduct objective studies by collecting information through investigations, surveying, physical sampling, testing and other activities. These comprehensive methods ensure accurate data and reliable assessments for making informed decisions.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry provides advice to businesses and federal governments on environmental issues, such as controlling environmental contamination from pollutants, toxic substances and hazardous materials. Environmental consultants identify problems, measure and evaluate risks and recommend solutions. The industry employs a multidisciplined staff of scientists, engineers and other technicians.

What's included in this industry?

Environmental assessmentsEnvironmental auditsNatural resource management consulting servicesSite remediation planning servicesWaste management consulting servicesPolicy, licensing and litigation support servicesConstruction management services

Companies

AecomJacobs Engineering Group Inc.Tetra Tech, inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)EMISSIONS TRADING PLANMERGER AND ACQUISITION

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 54162 - Environmental Consulting in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The Biden Administration's numerous actions on the environment amplify the importance of regulatory compliance. Businesses must now navigate a more complex landscape, increas...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The government forms a critical demand base for environmental consultants. Local, state and federal agencies consistently require these services, ensuring steady demand regar...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Construction, agriculture, and manufacturing heavily influence where environmental consultants are located. These markets determine the geographic distribution of companies, ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Environmental consulting companies often strike a balance between diversification and specialization. Diversifying their range of services makes firms more resilient to marke...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Jacobs Engineering has recently secured key contracts with government entities, including a significant contract with NASA for environmental consulting and restoration service...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Aecom's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Tetra Tech, inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Aecom, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Tetra Tech, inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates multiple times in response to surging inflation, increasing the cost of borrowing for downstream markets. This move has limited spen...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The ability to provide environmental consulting services virtually has boosted profit levels. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, highlighting the cost-effectivenes...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Environmental Consulting in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Environmental Consulting in the US industry in United States is $23.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Environmental Consulting in the US industry in 2024?

There are 61,638 businesses in the Environmental Consulting in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Environmental Consulting in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Environmental Consulting in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Environmental Consulting in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Environmental Consulting in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Environmental Consulting in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Environmental Consulting market in United States are Aecom, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. and Tetra Tech, inc.

What does the Environmental Consulting in the US in United States include?

Environmental assessments and Environmental audits are part of the Environmental Consulting in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Environmental Consulting in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Aecom.

How competitive is the Environmental Consulting in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Environmental Consulting in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Scientific & Economic Consulting in the US

Complementors

  • Engineering Services in the US
  • Geophysical Services in the US
  • Remediation & Environmental Cleanup Services in the US

International industries

  • Environmental Consulting in Canada
  • Consulting Services in New Zealand
  • Environmental Monitoring in China

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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