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Sustainability Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Sustainability Manager make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Sustainability Manager in the United States is $125,164 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $60.

However, a Sustainability Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $149,815
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $111,259 to $138,067
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $98,599
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View as table View as graph 25% $111,259 10% $98,599 90% $149,815 75% $138,067 $125,164 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Sustainability Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $138,067 $11,506 $2,655 $66
Average $125,164 $10,430 $2,407 $60
25th Percentile $111,259 $9,272 $2,140 $53
Check out Sustainability Manager Job Openings in the United States
Chief Corporate and Sustainability Counsel

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Sustainability and Gardens Manager

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum - Hamilton, OH

Environmental Sustainability

Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission - Columbus, OH

Sustainability Content Lead

Sunhat GmbH - New Bremen, OH

Search More Sustainability Manager Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Sustainability Manager Salaries

A Sustainability Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Sustainability Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Sustainability Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Sustainability Analyst II (4-7 years): $102,703
  • Sustainability Analyst III (7+ years): $118,241
  • Sustainability Manager (7+ years): $125,164
  • Sustainability Senior Manager (7+ years): $149,082
  • VP of Sustainability (7+ years): $217,007
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Sustainability Analyst II4-7 years$102,703
Sustainability Analyst III7+ years$118,241
Sustainability Manager7+ years$125,164
Sustainability Senior Manager7+ years$149,082
VP of Sustainability7+ years$217,007
$102,703 Sustainab...
$118,241 Sustainab...
$125,164 Sustainab...
$149,082 Sustainab...
$217,007 VP of Sus...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Sustainability Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $157,869
  • San Francisco: $156,141
  • Oakland: $152,850

What Skills Can Increase a Sustainability Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Initiative (Mentioned in 5.73% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
  • Benchmarking (Mentioned in 1.31% Job Postings): Benchmarking is the practice of comparing business processes and performance metrics to industry bests and best practices from other companies. Dimensions typically measured are quality, time and cost. Benchmarking is used to measure performance using a specific indicator (cost per unit of measure, productivity per unit of measure, cycle time of x per unit of measure or defects per unit of measure) resulting in a metric of performance that is then compared to others. Also referred to as "best practice benchmarking" or "process benchmarking", this process is used in management in which organizations evaluate various aspects of their processes in relation to best-practice companies' processes, usually within a peer group defined for the purposes of comparison. This then allows organizations to develop plans on how to make improvements or adapt specific best practices, usually with the aim of increasing some aspect of performance. Benchmarking may be a one-off event, but is often treated as a continuous process in which organizations continually seek to improve their practices.
  • Procurement (Mentioned in 0.55% Job Postings): Procurement is the process of finding and agreeing to terms, and acquiring goods, services, or works from an external source, often via a tendering or competitive bidding process. Procurement is used to ensure the buyer receives goods, services, or works at the best possible price when aspects such as quality, quantity, time, and location are compared. Corporations and public bodies often define processes intended to promote fair and open competition for their business while minimizing risks such as exposure to fraud and collusion. Almost all purchasing decisions include factors such as delivery and handling, marginal benefit, and price fluctuations. Procurement generally involves making buying decisions under conditions of scarcity. If sound data is available, it is good practice to make use of economic analysis methods such as cost-benefit analysis or cost-utility analysis.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Initiative 5.73%
Benchmarking 1.31%
Procurement 0.55%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Sustainability Manager's salary.
  • Investor Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Corporate Communications: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Investor Relations
$133,925
7%
Corporate Communications
$132,674
6%
Alignment
$131,422
5%
Packaging
$130,171
4%
Data Collection
$130,171
4%
Program Management
$128,919
3%
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Sustainability Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Sustainability Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

Sustainability Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Sustainability Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Sustainability Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $149,082 - a projected growth of 19% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Sustainability Manager

Salaries for a Sustainability Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $99,072 in 2023 to around $97,339 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Sustainability Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Sustainability Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$99,072
2024
$98,459
2025
$97,339
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $99,072
2024 $98,459
2025 $97,339
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Sustainability Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Sustainability Manager

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Sustainability Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Sustainability Manager

1. Where can a Sustainability Manager earn the most?

A Sustainability Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Sustainability Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Sustainability Manager is $157,869.

2. What is the highest pay for Sustainability Manager?

The highest pay for Sustainability Manager is $149,815.

3. What is the lowest pay for Sustainability Manager?

The lowest pay for Sustainability Manager is $98,599.

4. What are the responsibilities of Sustainability Manager?

Manages an organization's sustainability programs. Leads research and analysis used to develop corporate sustainability strategies to ensure that business practices, products, and services are environmentally friendly and compliant with government rules and regulations. Collaborates with other leaders to implement processes and technologies that reduce the organization's carbon footprint. Promotes and explains the organization's sustainability philosophy to internal and external audiences. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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