VP of Sustainability Salary in the United States

How much does a VP of Sustainability make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a VP of Sustainability in the United States is $217,083 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $104.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $239,095
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $199,499 to $228,605
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $183,490

Key Factors That Influence VP of Sustainability Salaries

A VP of Sustainability'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 VP of Sustainability Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a VP of Sustainability'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): $102,730
  • Sustainability Analyst III (7+ years): $118,248
  • Sustainability Manager (7+ years): $125,225
  • Sustainability Senior Manager (7+ years): $149,084
  • VP of Sustainability (7+ years): $217,083
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Sustainability Analyst II4-7 years$102,730
Sustainability Analyst III7+ years$118,248
Sustainability Manager7+ years$125,225
Sustainability Senior Manager7+ years$149,084
VP of Sustainability7+ years$217,083

Top Paying Cities for VP of Sustainabilities

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: $273,807
  • San Francisco: $270,809
  • Oakland: $265,102

What Skills Can Increase a VP of Sustainability's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Initiative (Mentioned in 6.93% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
  • Procurement (Mentioned in 0.95% 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.
  • Product Development (Mentioned in 0.47% Job Postings): Overseeing the creation of new products or improvement of the performance, cost, or quality of existing products to achieve business goals.
Skills Demand Percentage
Initiative 6.93%
Procurement 0.95%
Product Development 0.47%

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 VP of Sustainability's salary.

  • Organizing: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Investment Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Organizing $234,450
8%
Microsoft Office $234,450
8%
Investment Management $232,279
7%

VP of Sustainability Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

VP of Sustainability salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $242,599. While startup companies pay approximate $205,214.

VP of Sustainability Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $205,214
Growth Stage 51~500 $217,035
Established 501~5000 $234,261
Enterprise 5000+ $242,599

VP of Sustainability Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For VP of Sustainability roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, VP of Sustainability positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view VP of Sustainability as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a VP of Sustainability

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$271,354$130.025%
Biotechnology$260,500$125.020%
Internet$260,500$125.020%
Energy & Utilities$249,645$120.015%
Pharmaceuticals$249,645$120.015%

VP of Sustainability Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a VP of Sustainability'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 September 01, 2026
$199,499
Average $217,083/year
$228,605
$16,625
Average $18,090/month
$19,050
$3,837
Average $4,175/week
$4,396
$96
Average $104/hour
$110
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $228,605 $19,050 $4,396 $110
Average $217,083 $18,090 $4,175 $104
25th Percentile $199,499 $16,625 $3,837 $96

Most common benefits for VP of Sustainability

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for VP of Sustainability

Here are companies hiring for VP of Sustainability and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about VP of Sustainability

1. Where can a VP of Sustainability earn the most?

A VP of Sustainability'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 VP of Sustainability earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a VP of Sustainability is $273,807.

2. What is the highest pay for VP of Sustainability?

The highest pay for VP of Sustainability is $239,095.

3. What is the lowest pay for VP of Sustainability?

The lowest pay for VP of Sustainability is $183,490.

4. What are the responsibilities of VP of Sustainability?

Oversees all aspects of an organization's sustainability programs. Designs and develops 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 top management. Manages a departmental function within a broader corporate function. Develops major goals to support broad functional objectives. Approves policies developed within various sub-functions and departments. Typically requires 8+ years of managerial experience. Comprehensive knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for VP of Sustainability?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for VP of Sustainability roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

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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