Salary AI Book a Demo

Sustainability Associate Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Sustainability Associate in the United States is $104,766 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $123,490
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $92,670 to $114,567
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,657
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Sustainability Associate Salaries

A Sustainability Associate'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 Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Sustainability Associate'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): $80,456
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,606
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $121,559
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,731
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,258
Levels Salary
Sustainab... Level Sustainability Associate$80,456
Sustainab... Level Sustainability Associate$105,606
Sustainab... Level Sustainability Associate$121,559
Sustainab... Level Sustainability Associate$128,731
Sustainab... Level Sustainability Associate$153,258
View as Graph

How Do Sustainability Associate 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 Sustainability Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $115,997.
  • California: $115,557.
  • Massachusetts: $114,017.

Top Paying Cities for Sustainability Associates

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: $132,141
  • San Francisco: $130,695
  • Oakland: $127,940

What Skills Can Increase a Sustainability Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.52% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 1.15% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 0.88% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.52%
Accounting 1.15%
Packaging 0.88%
See More Skills

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 Associate's salary.

  • Content Development: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Packaging: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Content Development $111,052
6%
Packaging $111,052
6%
Coaching $108,957
4%
Get Latest Data

Sustainability Associate Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Sustainability Associate roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Sustainability Associate positions in Insurance or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Sustainability Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Sustainability Associate

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$157,149$76.050%
Biotechnology$146,672$71.040%
Chemicals$141,434$68.035%
Retail & Wholesale$136,196$65.030%
Telecom$130,958$63.025%

Sustainability Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Sustainability Associate'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
$92,670
Average $104,766/year
$114,567
$7,722
Average $8,731/month
$9,547
$1,782
Average $2,015/week
$2,203
$45
Average $50/hour
$55
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $114,567 $9,547 $2,203 $55
Average $104,766 $8,731 $2,015 $50
25th Percentile $92,670 $7,722 $1,782 $45

Most common benefits for Sustainability Associate

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

Common company salaries for Sustainability Associate

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

Find Your Next Sustainability Associate Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Sustainability Associate

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Sustainability Associate?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Sustainability Associate roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst