Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Sustainability Specialist

Find Schools Near

What You Need to Know About Sustainability Specialist

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

A Day in the Life of a Sustainability Specialist

  • Write grant applications, rebate applications, or project proposals to secure funding for sustainability projects.
  • Identify or create new sustainability indicators.
  • Identify or procure needed resources to implement sustainability programs or projects.
  • Create or maintain plans or other documents related to sustainability projects.
  • Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals.
  • Review and revise sustainability proposals or policies.

Sustainability Specialist Skills

These are the skills Sustainability Specialists say are the most useful in their careers:

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Other Sustainability Specialist Job Titles

  • Senior Sustainability Advisor
  • Sustainability Coach
  • Sustainability Coordinator
  • Sustainability Project Analyst
  • Champion of Sustainable Design

Job Outlook for Sustainability Specialists

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,023,900 jobs in the United States for Sustainability Specialist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 90,400 new jobs for Sustainability Specialist by 2026. The BLS estimates 104,200 yearly job openings in this field.

undefined

The states with the most job growth for Sustainability Specialist are Utah, Nevada, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Sustainability Specialist

The typical yearly salary for Sustainability Specialists is somewhere between $38,420 and $123,000.

undefined

Sustainability Specialists who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.

How much do Sustainability Specialists make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $85,140
Alaska $82,160
Arizona $67,670
Arkansas $59,530
California $83,470
Colorado $82,130
Connecticut $78,120
Delaware $81,880
District of Columbia $102,730
Florida $66,440
Georgia $75,070
Hawaii $73,310
Idaho $67,630
Illinois $71,780
Indiana $61,290
Iowa $65,020
Kansas $74,520
Kentucky $66,450
Louisiana $60,430
Maine $66,760
Maryland $91,400
Massachusetts $85,980
Michigan $70,410
Minnesota $71,220
Mississippi $65,650
Missouri $73,500
Montana $66,290
Nebraska $74,370
Nevada $71,580
New Hampshire $70,890
New Jersey $78,920
New Mexico $70,340
New York $83,330
North Carolina $74,040
North Dakota $73,010
Ohio $71,190
Oklahoma $72,940
Oregon $68,890
Pennsylvania $80,910
Rhode Island $80,380
South Carolina $69,340
South Dakota $70,830
Tennessee $62,330
Texas $80,140
Utah $72,100
Vermont $67,910
Virginia $88,180
Washington $77,850
West Virginia $70,180
Wisconsin $57,620
Wyoming $69,740

What Tools & Technology do Sustainability Specialists Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Sustainability Specialists may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • JavaScript
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Word processing software
  • Microsoft Project
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign

Becoming a Sustainability Specialist

What education or degrees do I need to become a Sustainability Specialist?

undefined

How many years of work experience do I need?

undefined

Where Sustainability Specialists Work

undefined

The table below shows the approximate number of Sustainability Specialists employed by various industries.

undefined

References:

Image Credit: via

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.