Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Director of sustainability salary
Average director of sustainability salary
$120,649
Overview of Director of Sustainability Salaries
The role of a Director of Sustainability is increasingly important as organizations prioritize environmental responsibility. On average, these professionals earn $120,649 per year, translating to about $58 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly depending on geographic location, years of experience, and the industry in which one works.
Salary Variations by State
For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for sustainability initiatives. On the other hand, regions with lower living costs may provide competitive salaries that reflect local economic conditions.
Job Opportunities
In addition to salary, the demand for sustainability directors is rising across various sectors, including corporate, nonprofit, and government organizations. Many companies are investing in sustainability programs, leading to a growing need for skilled professionals. This trend indicates a promising future for those pursuing a career in sustainability management, making it a rewarding field both financially and ethically.
Let Zippia find your next director of sustainability job
Let Zippia find your next director of sustainability job
Where can a Director Of Sustainability earn more?
Director of sustainability salary estimates from across the web
Average director of sustainability salary by state
The average director of sustainability salary in California, Maryland, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average director of sustainability salary states are Wyoming, Kansas, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of sustainability
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $131,215 | $63.08 |
| 2 | Utah | $129,739 | $62.37 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $125,716 | $60.44 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $130,431 | $62.71 |
| 5 | Maryland | $136,669 | $65.71 |
| 6 | California | $138,353 | $66.52 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $127,622 | $61.36 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $128,335 | $61.70 |
| 9 | New York | $129,338 | $62.18 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $128,579 | $61.82 |
| 11 | Mississippi | $123,199 | $59.23 |
| 12 | Ohio | $129,481 | $62.25 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $128,056 | $61.57 |
| 14 | Vermont | $127,512 | $61.30 |
| 15 | Texas | $126,998 | $61.06 |
| 16 | Michigan | $131,170 | $63.06 |
| 17 | Delaware | $124,467 | $59.84 |
| 18 | Nevada | $126,272 | $60.71 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $126,314 | $60.73 |
| 20 | Montana | $122,860 | $59.07 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $122,894 | $59.08 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $124,158 | $59.69 |
| 23 | Illinois | $122,452 | $58.87 |
| 24 | Maine | $117,279 | $56.38 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $116,410 | $55.97 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $123,241 | $59.25 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $121,038 | $58.19 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $118,768 | $57.10 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $114,889 | $55.24 |
| 30 | Alabama | $102,978 | $49.51 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $112,545 | $54.11 |
| 32 | Arizona | $109,475 | $52.63 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $106,979 | $51.43 |
| 34 | Idaho | $108,100 | $51.97 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $107,727 | $51.79 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $100,262 | $48.20 |
| 37 | Virginia | $112,689 | $54.18 |
| 38 | Oregon | $103,105 | $49.57 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $102,300 | $49.18 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $102,114 | $49.09 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $94,253 | $45.31 |
| 42 | Missouri | $109,847 | $52.81 |
| 43 | Indiana | $100,717 | $48.42 |
| 44 | Washington | $101,403 | $48.75 |
| 45 | Colorado | $102,672 | $49.36 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $101,287 | $48.70 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $101,816 | $48.95 |
| 48 | Kansas | $98,662 | $47.43 |
| 49 | Iowa | $97,947 | $47.09 |
| 50 | Georgia | $94,528 | $45.45 |
| 51 | Florida | $92,847 | $44.64 |
Highest paying cities for directors of sustainability
The highest-paying cities for directors of sustainability are San Francisco, CA, Detroit, MI, and Albany, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $147,923 | $71.12 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $132,305 | $63.61 |
| 3 | Albany, NY | $130,528 | $62.75 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $128,677 | $61.86 |
| 5 | Concord, NH | $128,553 | $61.80 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $128,467 | $61.76 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $127,865 | $61.47 |
| 8 | Hartford, CT | $126,905 | $61.01 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $124,297 | $59.76 |
| 10 | Columbia, SC | $123,864 | $59.55 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $122,903 | $59.09 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $112,445 | $54.06 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $110,339 | $53.05 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $109,697 | $52.74 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $108,729 | $52.27 |
| 16 | Moscow, ID | $108,236 | $52.04 |
| 17 | Colorado Springs, CO | $102,902 | $49.47 |
| 18 | Beaverton, OR | $102,657 | $49.35 |
| 19 | Bellevue, WA | $101,995 | $49.04 |
| 20 | Harrisburg, PA | $101,938 | $49.01 |
Director of sustainability salary details
A director of sustainability's salary ranges from $80,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $179,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of sustainability's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $179,000 | $14,917 | $86 |
| 75th Percentile | $148,000 | $12,333 | $71 |
| Average | $120,649 | $10,054 | $58 |
| 25th Percentile | $97,000 | $8,083 | $47 |
| 10th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
Highest paying director of sustainability jobs
The highest paying types of directors of sustainability are vice president of engineering, chief of staff, and champion of sustainable design.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vice President Of Engineering | $150,651 | $12,554 | $72.43 | 92,133 |
| Chief Of Staff | $130,835 | $10,903 | $62.90 | 124,272 |
| Sustainability Coordinator | $52,310 | $4,359 | $25.15 | 9,595 |
| Sustainability Consultant | $64,240 | $5,353 | $30.88 | 14,470 |
| Sustainability Manager | $67,890 | $5,657 | $32.64 | 4,105 |
Top companies hiring directors of sustainability now:
Which companies pay directors of sustainability the most?
Director of sustainability salaries at Meta and Aspiration are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of sustainability salary at companies like Abbott and Nike are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $173,401 | $83.37 |
| 2 | Aspiration | $159,776 | $76.82 |
| 3 | Abbott | $152,448 | $73.29 |
| 4 | Nike | $151,258 | $72.72 |
| 5 | QuantumScape | $147,965 | $71.14 |
| 6 | Capgemini | $146,121 | $70.25 |
| 7 | Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. | $144,214 | $69.33 |
| 8 | Pwc | $143,780 | $69.13 |
| 9 | Lendlease | $139,077 | $66.86 |
| 10 | Microsoft | $138,921 | $66.79 |
| 11 | Callon Petroleum | $138,249 | $66.47 |
| 12 | McCarthy Holdings, Inc. | $138,053 | $66.37 |
| 13 | Baptist Health Home Care | $136,673 | $65.71 |
| 14 | New England Aquarium | $133,768 | $64.31 |
| 15 | HealthPartners | $130,986 | $62.97 |
| 16 | Mastercard | $125,735 | $60.45 |
| 17 | L'Oréal | $125,705 | $60.44 |
| 18 | Xylem | $124,987 | $60.09 |
| 19 | Harvard University | $121,809 | $58.56 |
| 20 | NRG Energy | $120,537 | $57.95 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director Of Sustainability salary by industry
The average director of sustainability salary varies across industries:
- The average director of sustainability salary in the construction industry is $112,693, the highest of any industry.
- The average director of sustainability salary in the finance industry is $111,651.
- Directors of sustainability in the government industry earn an average salary of $77,310, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for directors of sustainability
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $112,693 | $54.18 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $111,651 | $53.68 |
| 3 | Energy | $110,244 | $53.00 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $105,492 | $50.72 |
| 5 | Education | $94,369 | $45.37 |
| 6 | Hospitality | $93,235 | $44.82 |
| 7 | Government | $77,310 | $37.17 |
High paying director of sustainability jobs
Director of sustainability salary trends
The average director of sustainability salary has risen by $17,757 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of sustainability earned $102,892 annually, but today, they earn $120,649 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for directors of sustainability over the last decade.
Compare director of sustainability salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of sustainability salary over time
Compare director of sustainability salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of sustainability salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $121,000 | $58.00 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | $116,000 | $55.80 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $113,000 | $54.49 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | $113,000 | $54.09 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $111,000 | $53.34 | +1.3% |
Recently added director of sustainability salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gensler | Sustainability Director | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $125,000 |
| USP | Director, Sustainable Manufacturing | Rockville, MD | 06/17/2025 | $161,000 |
| The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP | Director, Sustainable Manufacturing | Rockville, MD | 06/16/2025 | $161,000 |
| Long Beach City College | Director, Climate Resilience & Sustainability | Long Beach, CA | 06/11/2025 | $130,760 |
| CSU Careers | Director of Energy & Sustainability (Administrator II) | San Diego, CA | 06/06/2025 | $135,000 |
| San Diego State University | Director of Energy & Sustainability (Administrator II) | San Diego, CA | 06/05/2025 | $135,000 |
| California State University System | Director of Energy & Sustainability (Administrator II) | San Diego, CA | 06/04/2025 | $135,000 |
| Agropur Inc. | Director Global Sustainability | Appleton, WI | 05/29/2025 | $140,700 |
| Central Indiana Community Foundation | Director of Nonprofit Services and Sustainability | Indianapolis, IN | 05/28/2025 | $105,000 |
| Agropur CoopÉRative | Director Global Sustainability | Appleton, WI | 05/28/2025 | $140,700 |
Director of sustainability salary FAQs
Search for director of sustainability jobs