Chief Sustainability Officers
Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.
Also called: Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) · Corporate Sustainability Process Manager · CSR and Sustainability VP (Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Vice President) · Sustainability Chancellor · Sustainability Chief · Sustainability Director
Median pay (national)
$206,420
$73,710–$239,200+ (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
211,850
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.3%
~22,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for chief sustainability officers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $239,200+ versus $73,710 at the bottom 10% — 3.2x. The median of $206,420 leaves roughly 16% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.3% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 22,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, Massachusetts pays the most for this role (median $239,200, +16% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $93,740 — a 155% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Writing, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
Tailor your resume to Chief Sustainability Officers
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Chief Sustainability Officers
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of sustainability programs.
- Develop or execute strategies to address issues such as energy use, resource conservation, recycling, pollution reduction, waste elimination, transportation, education, and building design.
- Develop, or oversee the development of, sustainability evaluation or monitoring systems.
- Supervise employees or volunteers working on sustainability projects.
- Develop sustainability reports, presentations, or proposals for supplier, employee, academia, media, government, public interest, or other groups.
- Develop, or oversee the development of, marketing or outreach media for sustainability projects or events.
- Identify and evaluate pilot projects or programs to enhance the sustainability research agenda.
- Create and maintain sustainability program documents, such as schedules and budgets.
- Formulate or implement sustainability campaign or marketing strategies.
- Research environmental sustainability issues, concerns, or stakeholder interests.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Adobe Photoshop
- Salesforce software
- SAP software
- Tableau
- Management information systems MIS
- Microsoft Dynamics GP
- Scheduling software
- Structure query language SQL
- Teleconferencing software
- Web browser software
- Adobe Acrobat
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Law and Government
- Communications and Media
- Building and Construction
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Economics and Accounting