Head of Sustainability Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Head of Sustainability in the United States is $222,303 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $107.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $245,072
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $205,107 to $234,221
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $189,451
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View as table View as graph 25% $205,107 10% $189,451 90% $245,072 75% $234,221 $222,303 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Head of Sustainability Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $234,221 $19,518 $4,504 $113
Average $222,303 $18,525 $4,275 $107
25th Percentile $205,107 $17,092 $3,944 $99
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Key Factors That Influence Head of Sustainability Salaries

A Head 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 Head of Sustainability Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Head 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $104,788
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $120,623
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $127,727
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $152,080
  • Expert (over 8 years): $221,427
Levels Salary
Sustainab... Level Head of Sustainability$104,788
Sustainab... Level Head of Sustainability$120,623
Sustainab... Level Head of Sustainability$127,727
Sustainab... Level Head of Sustainability$152,080
Head of S... Level Head of Sustainability$221,427
$104,788 0 yr
$120,623 < 2 yrs
$127,727 2-4 yrs
$152,080 5-8 yrs
$221,427 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Head of Sustainability Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Head of Sustainabilities. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $246,134.
  • California: $245,200.
  • Massachusetts: $241,932.

Top Paying Cities for Head 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: $280,391
  • San Francisco: $277,321
  • Oakland: $271,476

What Skills Can Increase a Head 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.
See More Skills
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 Head 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
$240,087
8%
Microsoft Office
$240,087
8%
Investment Management
$237,864
7%
Facilities Management
$237,864
7%
Energy Efficiency
$237,864
7%
Change Management
$233,418
5%
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Head of Sustainability Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Head 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, Head of Sustainability positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Head of Sustainability as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Head of Sustainability

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$277,879$134.025%
Biotechnology$266,764$128.020%
Internet$266,764$128.020%
Energy & Utilities$255,648$123.015%
Pharmaceuticals$255,648$123.015%

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

Understanding how a Head 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Head of Sustainability

Salaries for a Head of Sustainability can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $200,299 in 2023 to around $198,600 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Head of Sustainability salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Head of Sustainability Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$200,299
2024
$202,554
2025
$198,600
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $200,299
2024 $202,554
2025 $198,600
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Head of Sustainability

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

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

Find Your Next Head of Sustainability Job

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

United States
  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Brand & External Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare indust... more

    17 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    18 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    18 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    18 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    20 Days Ago

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FAQ about Head of Sustainability

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Head of Sustainability?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Head 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.)

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