Sustainability Specialists
Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.
Also called: Building Performance Specialist, Campus Energy Coordinator, Energy Analyst, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Energy and Sustainability Strategic Advisor, Green Consultant
Median pay
$83,050
Pay for the broader BLS group “Business Operations Specialists, All Other”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$47,880 – $150,010
People employed
1,087,090
Whole BLS group
Holland code
IEC
Investigative · Enterprising · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Sustainability Specialists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Business Operations Specialists, All Other”.
What sustainability specialists do
- 01Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals.
- 02Monitor or track sustainability indicators, such as energy usage, natural resource usage, waste generation, and recycling.
- 03Assess or propose sustainability initiatives, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance.
- 04Provide technical or administrative support for sustainability programs or issues.
- 05Review and revise sustainability proposals or policies.
- 06Develop reports or presentations to communicate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.
Skills that matter most
- Writing
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Administration and Management
- Law and Government
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Building and Construction
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from sustainability specialists
- Chief Sustainability Officers89% · group pay
- Wind Energy Development Managers87% · group pay
- Information Technology Project Managers80% · group pay
- Climate Change Policy Analysts76% · group pay
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers76% · group pay
Change into sustainability specialists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Chief Sustainability Officers91% · $213,990
- Wind Energy Development Managers84% · $141,900
- Urban and Regional Planners83% · $89,320
- Climate Change Policy Analysts81% · $82,220
- Transportation Planners77% · $101,110
Majors that lead here
- Business Administration and Management, General
- E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce
- Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services, Other
- Hotel/Motel Administration/Management
- International Business/Trade/Commerce
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.