💡 Why it matters: Customers, investors and governments increasingly expect organisations to protect the environment and treat people well. Sustainability strategists show them how.
🌍 Around the world
- 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
- ₦6M – ₦14M
- Senior
- ₦14M – ₦32M
≈ ₦500k – ₦1.2M a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Closest UK job: Environmental consultant. Typical starter to experienced salary. National Careers Service, 2026
🇺🇸 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
Job Bank occupation: Environmental Consultant (except Engineer) (closest). Hourly $28.57 / $43.27 / $65.38 (low / median / high) x 2,080 hours per year.. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 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
- Measure a company's impact on the environment
- Plan ways to cut waste and energy use
- Write reports for investors and the public
- Work with suppliers and communities
- Train staff on greener ways of working
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Analysis
- Communication
- Curiosity
- Problem solving
- Writing
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Short professional courses in ESG or sustainability reporting
- Start in a corporate social responsibility team
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Start in a company sustainability team
- Short courses in sustainability reporting
🇺🇸 United States
- Join a company sustainability or corporate social responsibility team
- Certificates in sustainability reporting
🇨🇦 Canada
- Join a company sustainability team
- Co-op placements
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study Geography, Biology and Economics
- 2Take an environment or business degree
- 3Join a company's sustainability or CSR team
- 4Learn how to measure and report impact
- 5Lead sustainability for a company or consultancy
⏰ A day in the life
You compare the electricity use of three company offices and spot where energy is wasted. Then you meet a supplier about cheaper packaging and draft a report for the bosses.