Sustainably is the new high-tech. As businesses and organizations change their operations to become green, they’re looking for leaders who create, implement, and manage environment-friendly initiatives and sustainable enterprise. If this sounds like you, then a bachelor’s degree or MBA with a sustainability concentration may be a good choice for you. In a sustainability-oriented degree program, you’ll learn how organizations implement environmentally friendly measures through green management techniques, innovation, eco-commerce, and environmental accounting.
Although all types of businesses benefit from green initiatives, some have a more technical focus—green building, environmental remediation, or environmental engineering, for example. If you’re technically oriented, consider a bachelor’s degree in sustainable architecture, engineering, or environmental science. The bachelor’s degree and MBA are two of the most common online programs now, so you can earn your sustainability bachelor’s degree online if you’re already in the workforce. Adding an online MBA in sustainability will put you in line for a leadership position and possibly qualify you for more money.
Sustainability Careers
The sustainability trend is gaining traction in every sector of business: private, public, and nonprofit. Depending on your specific sustainability-oriented degree, you may work for a private corporation or government agency. CareerCast.com’s top 200 jobs for 2010 include several sustainability-relevant occupations, including Biologist, Civil Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Architectural Drafter, Sociologist, Hospitality Executive, Conservationist, Agricultural Scientist, Farmer, Nuclear Technician, and more.
What’s the Sustainability Job Outlook?
It’s hard to avoid the word “green” these days. From policies to programs, it seems that green is cool — and red hot. As the trend grows, so will the demand for business managers, scientists, engineers, and public service planners with sustainability expertise.
How Much Does a Sustainability Career Pay?
According to Payscale.com, the median starting salary range for a Sustainability Consultant is $40,695-57,133; for Sustainability Manager, $48,934-75,461; and for a Sustainability Project Coordinator, $37,665-52,598. The midlevel salaries for some of the careers listed above range from $35,000-$70,000.
