What Do Chief Sustainability Officer Do?
Chief Sustainability Officer Definition Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.
Daily Life Of a Chief Sustainability Officer
- Develop, or oversee the development of, marketing or outreach media for sustainability projects or events.
- Conduct sustainability- or environment-related risk assessments.
- Write and distribute financial or environmental impact reports.
- Supervise employees or volunteers working on sustainability projects.
- Direct sustainability program operations to ensure compliance with environmental or governmental regulations.
- Review sustainability program objectives, progress, or status to ensure compliance with policies, standards, regulations, or laws.
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Chief Sustainability Officer Skills
When polled, Chief Sustainability Officers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Other Chief Sustainability Officer Job Titles
- Sustainability Reports Manager
- Environment Coordinator
- Sustainability Program Manager
- Stakeholder Manager
- Director of Sustainability
Chief Sustainability Officer Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 308,900 jobs for Chief Sustainability Officer in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Chief Sustainability Officer. The BLS estimates 20,000 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Chief Sustainability Officer are Washington, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Ohio, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Chief Sustainability Officer Make?
The typical yearly salary for Chief Sustainability Officers is somewhere between $68,360 and $208,000.

Chief Sustainability Officers who work in California, District of Columbia, or Georgia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Chief Sustainability Officers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $204,590 |
Alaska | $179,630 |
Arizona | $194,360 |
Arkansas | $126,960 |
California | $228,270 |
Colorado | $198,130 |
Connecticut | $210,650 |
District of Columbia | $247,500 |
Florida | $187,870 |
Georgia | $218,590 |
Hawaii | $201,680 |
Idaho | $94,470 |
Illinois | $230,070 |
Indiana | $148,730 |
Iowa | $211,560 |
Kansas | $172,100 |
Kentucky | $152,670 |
Louisiana | $208,110 |
Maine | $152,780 |
Maryland | $198,260 |
Massachusetts | $221,810 |
Michigan | $206,660 |
Minnesota | $195,320 |
Mississippi | $112,310 |
Missouri | $167,980 |
Montana | $132,400 |
Nebraska | $220,950 |
Nevada | $215,590 |
New Hampshire | $180,250 |
New Jersey | $233,050 |
New York | $220,040 |
North Carolina | $210,050 |
North Dakota | $172,900 |
Ohio | $201,100 |
Oklahoma | $157,540 |
Oregon | $212,290 |
Pennsylvania | $231,120 |
Rhode Island | $242,350 |
South Carolina | $182,760 |
South Dakota | $251,950 |
Tennessee | $152,730 |
Texas | $239,680 |
Utah | $165,020 |
Vermont | $136,410 |
Virginia | $228,540 |
Washington | $220,730 |
West Virginia | $153,880 |
Wisconsin | $154,820 |
Wyoming | $131,020 |
What Tools do Chief Sustainability Officers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Chief Sustainability Officers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Scheduling software
- Microsoft Dynamics GP
- Teleconferencing software
How to Become a Chief Sustainability Officer
What education is needed to be a Chief Sustainability Officer?

What work experience do I need to become a Chief Sustainability Officer?

Who Employs Chief Sustainability Officers?

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

References:
Image Credit: Dave Dugdale via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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