Sustainability Specialists

SOC code 13-1199 · O*NET-SOC 13-1199.05 · Considerable preparation needed · Business and finance

Bright Outlook — O*NET expects numerous job openings for this occupation

Sustainability specialists help organisations measure and reduce their environmental impact — energy, waste, supply chains, reporting. The role usually grows out of an environmental science, engineering or business background, and demand has risen as disclosure requirements have spread.

Sustainability Specialists pay

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

Median pay

$83,050

a year

Hourly

$39.93

per hour

10th$47,880Median$83,05090th$150,010

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

Average pay

$93,970

$45.18 per hour

Middle 50%

$62,640 – $114,010

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$47,880 – $150,010

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

1,087,090

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 “Business Operations Specialists, All Other”, not this job alone.

10th percentile: $47,880; $23.02/hr
25th percentile: $62,640; $30.12/hr
Median percentile: $83,050; $39.93/hr
75th percentile: $114,010; $54.81/hr
90th percentile: $150,010; $72.12/hr

What does a sustainability specialist do?

Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.

The tasks that matter most day to day

Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals.
Monitor or track sustainability indicators, such as energy usage, natural resource usage, waste generation, and recycling.
Assess or propose sustainability initiatives, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance.
Provide technical or administrative support for sustainability programs or issues.
Review and revise sustainability proposals or policies.
Develop reports or presentations to communicate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.
Create or maintain plans or other documents related to sustainability projects.
Collect information about waste stream management or green building practices to inform decision makers.

How to become a sustainability specialist

Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 52% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.

Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed

Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

See all zone 4 occupations →

Education reported by people doing this job

Bachelor's Degree52%
Master's Degree39%
Some College Courses4%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate4%

Common questions

How much does a sustainability specialist earn?

The national median is $83,050 a year. The full range runs from $47,880 at the 10th percentile to $150,010 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 sustainability specialist without a degree?

Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Reading Comprehension4.0/5
Writing4.0/5
Speaking4.0/5
Active Listening3.9/5
Critical Thinking3.9/5
Monitoring3.5/5
Active Learning3.3/5

Knowledge areas

Administration and Management3.7/5
Law and Government3.5/5
Education and Training3.5/5
English Language3.5/5
Building and Construction3.4/5
Customer and Personal Service3.2/5
Communications and Media3.1/5
Engineering and Technology3.0/5

Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination.