💡 Why it matters: Companies of all kinds are now expected to report how they treat the environment and their communities. Analysts who can measure and explain this are in demand.
🌍 Around the world
- Nigeria: Banks, oil firms and big brands are expected to report on their environmental and community impact.
- United States: Jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦2M – ₦5M
- Mid-career
- ₦5.5M – ₦14M
- Senior
- ₦14M – ₦35M
≈ ₦458k – ₦1.2M a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇺🇸 United States
Closest US category: Environmental scientists and specialists. Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Closest Job Bank occupation: Environmental Consultant (except Engineer). Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Collect data on energy, waste, water and workers' welfare
- Write sustainability reports for investors and the public
- Spot risks such as pollution fines or community complaints
- Suggest ways to cut emissions and costs
- Explain findings to company leaders
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Data analysis
- Report writing
- Business sense
- Attention to detail
- Communication
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Professional certificate in ESG or sustainability reporting while working
- Start in a company's compliance or quality team and move across
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Graduate schemes at banks, consultancies and energy firms
- Sustainability or ESG certificates while working
🇺🇸 United States
- Internships with company sustainability or consulting teams
- Sustainability reporting certificates while working
🇨🇦 Canada
- Co-op work placements during a degree
- Move across from finance or compliance roles
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study Economics, Mathematics and Geography in school
- 2Follow news about companies and climate
- 3Earn a degree in environmental management, economics or business
- 4Start as a junior analyst or intern in a bank, energy or consulting firm
- 5Grow into sustainability manager or head of ESG
⏰ A day in the life
You pull energy and water numbers from three company sites into a spreadsheet. Then you draft a section of the sustainability report and meet the finance team to agree how to explain a rise in emissions.