Chief Sustainability Officers

SOC code 11-1011 · O*NET-SOC 11-1011.03 · Extensive preparation needed

Chief Sustainability Officers pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$213,990

a year

Hourly

$102.88

per hour

10th$75,700Median$213,99090th$507,730

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$269,630

$129.63 per hour

Middle 50%

$129,540 – $356,200

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$75,700 – $507,730

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

204,350

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Chief Executives”, not this job alone.

10th percentile: $75,700; $36.39/hr
25th percentile: $129,540; $62.28/hr
Median percentile: $213,990; $102.88/hr
75th percentile: $356,200; $171.25/hr
90th percentile: $507,730; $244.10/hr

What does a chief sustainability officer do?

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

The tasks that matter most day to day

Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of sustainability programs.
Develop or execute strategies to address issues such as energy use, resource conservation, recycling, pollution reduction, waste elimination, transportation, education, and building design.
Develop, or oversee the development of, sustainability evaluation or monitoring systems.
Supervise employees or volunteers working on sustainability projects.
Develop sustainability reports, presentations, or proposals for supplier, employee, academia, media, government, public interest, or other groups.
Develop, or oversee the development of, marketing or outreach media for sustainability projects or events.
Identify and evaluate pilot projects or programs to enhance the sustainability research agenda.
Create and maintain sustainability program documents, such as schedules and budgets.

How to become a chief sustainability officer

Most people in this role hold master's degree — 74% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.

Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed

Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

See all zone 5 occupations →

Education reported by people doing this job

Master's Degree74%
Bachelor's Degree19%
Post-Master's Certificate7%

Common questions

How much does a chief sustainability officer earn?

The national median is $213,990 a year. The full range runs from $75,700 at the 10th percentile to $507,730 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become a chief sustainability officer without a degree?

Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Writing4.1/5
Critical Thinking4.1/5
Reading Comprehension4.0/5
Active Listening4.0/5
Speaking4.0/5

Knowledge areas

English Language4.3/5
Administration and Management4.2/5
Law and Government3.7/5
Communications and Media3.6/5
Building and Construction3.5/5
Customer and Personal Service3.4/5
Education and Training3.4/5
Economics and Accounting3.2/5

Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis.