From Environmental & Sustainability Job Markets

Sustainability careers focus on aspects of the environment, society, and economy. Such jobs focus on creating and managing activities that will aid in economic and societal development while safeguarding our planet and its resources.

Of course, careers in sustainability are certainly worthwhile. The work is interesting, opportunities abound, and it is easy to make an impact. The increased focus on corporate responsibility has continually driven the need for these professionals as well.

To pursue a career in sustainability, the first step is to get the necessary education through courses and certifications. Volunteer for environmental initiatives, attend industry networking events, and start integrating sustainability into your current position, if applicable.

Specific degree requirements may differ, but the most common fields are still environmental science, sustainability management, business sustainability, or environmental engineering. A lot of practitioners also get master’s degrees or other forms of specialization.

Competing for a spot in sustainability might be hard to break into, but not impossible. Developing a strong personal brand through skill building, relevant work experience (e.g. internships, volunteering), and networking will enable candidates to succeed locally and globally.

Pay within environmental sustainability can differ greatly depending on the specific position, years of experience, and even the geographical region. For instance, entry-level salaries tend to range from $40,000-$50,000, while those at the helm, such as Sustainability Directors may have salaries upward of $100,000 annually.

Certainly, there is great market need for sustainability positions. Due to increasing corporate focus on environmental and social governance, the industries everywhere are acquiring an attention for sustainability professionals.

Sustainability jobs include being an Environmental Scientist, a Sustainability Consultant, a Renewable Energy Manager, a Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist, or even a Green Building Designer or Sustainable Supply Chain Manager.

The top three highest paying jobs within sustainability are Chief Sustainability Officer, Renewable Energy Project Manager, and an Environmental Engineer. Depending on the company and region, top-level positions could average above $150,000 a year.

As more companies begin shifting their focus to environmental care, pursuing a degree in sustainability becomes more valuable due to this specialized knowledge. Furthermore, those majors might even create additional opportunities that enable them to tackle various worldwide problems.

If you want to contribute towards creating a more sustainable world, you can target positions that require social and environmental responsibility. This ranges from being part of a corporation's sustainability department to working for environmental non-profit organizations, or even applying such concepts in engineering, design, or business management.

In order to get hired for a position in sustainability, you could focus on staying informed about current issues, acquiring useful skills through courses or certificates, connecting with people professionally, joining networking activities, and searching for positions or internships in companies that focus on sustainability.

If you want to break into sustainability with little to no work experience, I recommend volunteering at environmental NGOs, completing sustainability courses, attending webinars and conferences, and scanning for less-skilled jobs that match your current abilities, but are oriented towards sustainability.

The outlook for employment in environmental science is good. Environmental science graduates can find work as environmental scientists, consultants, policy advisors, and researchers in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies. This field offers work to respond to significant challenges such as climate change, pollution, and conservation. Recently, it has also been noted that job openings in this sector will increase more rapidly than average for the coming years.