# Sustainability Specialists

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sustainability-specialists
- SOC code: 13-1199.05
- Career family: Business and finance
- Median annual pay: $83,050 (10th percentile $47,880, 90th percentile $150,010)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.9%
- Openings a year: 98,700
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Business operations specialists, all other".

## Interest profile (code IEC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 18 |
| Investigative (I) | 70 |
| Artistic (A) | 25 |
| Social (S) | 33 |
| Enterprising (E) | 68 |
| Conventional (C) | 57 |

## What you'd do

- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 89/100)
- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 84/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 84/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 82/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 81/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 80/100)
- Processing Information (importance 76/100)
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others (importance 76/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Active Learning, Coordination

## Knowledge

Administration and Management, Law and Government, Education and Training, English Language, Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service, Communications and Media, Engineering and Technology, Design, Administrative

## Also called

Building Performance Specialist, Campus Energy Coordinator, Energy Analyst, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Energy and Sustainability Strategic Advisor, Green Consultant, Integrated Solutions Consultant, Renewable Energy Consultant, Sustainability Advisor, Sustainability Analyst

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Administration, Management and Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5202) (CIP 5202, 2,372 colleges)
- [Business Operations Support and Assistant Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5204) (CIP 5204, 758 colleges)
- [Hospitality Administration/Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5209) (CIP 5209, 641 colleges)
- [International Business](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5211) (CIP 5211, 569 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $97,419 | $160,783 | $19,000 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | International Business | not reported | $159,452 | $13,500 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $96,806 | $144,654 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $94,811 | $144,599 | $10,656 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $108,743 | $136,806 | $19,250 |
| [Emory University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emory-university-main-campus-916) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $87,830 | $136,731 | $15,000 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $88,182 | $135,874 | $9,250 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | International Business | $76,290 | $125,162 | $18,258 |

## Related careers

- [Chief Sustainability Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chief-sustainability-officers): $213,990 median pay
- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 median pay
- [Energy Auditors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/energy-auditors): $74,690 median pay
- [Project Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/project-management-specialists): $102,320 median pay
- [Climate Change Policy Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/climate-change-policy-analysts): $82,220 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.