Measures and reports an organization's greenhouse gas emissions using standard accounting methods so it can disclose and reduce them. BLS does not publish separate figures for sustainability specialists; it counts them within sustainability specialist (SOC 13-1199), whose median pay is $83,050 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-1199
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Carbon Accountant in four numbers
- Median pay
- $83,050a year, or $39.93/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $150K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.9%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 98,7001,157,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.2M
- Projected 20351.2M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.2M Projected 2035 1.2M - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college4.4%
- Bachelor's52.2%
- Post-bacc certificate4.4%
- Master's39.1%
Highest education held by sustainability specialists Segment Value Some college 4.4% Bachelor's 52.2% Post-bacc certificate 4.4% Master's 39.1%
Also advertised as: GHG Accounting Analyst, Carbon Accounting Specialist, Greenhouse Gas Inventory Analyst, Emissions Analyst, Carbon Analyst.
Pay
How much do Sustainability Specialists make?
Every carbon accountant in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$83,050
Middle half earn $62,640 to $114,010
- 10th
- $47,880
- 25th
- $62,640
- 75th
- $114,010
- 90th
- $150,010
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,880 |
| 25th | $62,640 |
| Median | $83,050 |
| 75th | $114,010 |
| 90th | $150,010 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $83,050
- Median hourly wage
- $39.93/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $93,970
- People employed
- 1,087,090
Versus all US occupations
At $83,050, Sustainability Specialists earn 63% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $32,070 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 3% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $150,010 or more while the bottom 10% earn $47,880, a gap of 3.1×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 63% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($108,160), but once local prices are taken into account Alabama leads at $112,854 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Sustainability Specialists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $108,160 | $98,416 | 37,790 |
| 2Maryland | $101,500 | $96,704 | 39,820 |
| 3Washington | $100,360 | $93,783 | 51,650 |
| 4Alabama | $100,240 | $112,854 | 6,990 |
| 5Delaware | $95,040 | $95,223 | 1,600 |
| 6Alaska | $94,740 | $92,557 | 2,020 |
| 7Oklahoma | $93,640 | $106,599 | 5,700 |
| 8Massachusetts | $93,270 | $88,193 | 17,910 |
| 9Hawaii | $92,620 | $84,238 | 4,030 |
| 10Colorado | $92,520 | $89,780 | 45,670 |
Job outlook
Is Carbon Accountant a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Sustainability Specialists | +3.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Sustainability Specialists to change 3.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 44,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 98,700 openings are projected each year, 8.5% of the 1,157,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Carbon Accountant
People arrive from accounting, environmental science, engineering and sustainability programs. A bachelor's degree is typical, and spreadsheet, database and data analysis skills matter more than any one major.
The Greenhouse Gas Management Institute offers training and, with ECO Canada, the Environmental Professional in Greenhouse Gas Management credential, known as EP(GHG), accredited to ISO 17024. The GHG Protocol publishes the corporate standards and free training. Many carbon accountants start as sustainability analysts or audit and assurance staff and specialize as climate disclosure requirements expand. Familiarity with frameworks such as CDP and ISO 14064 helps.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as sustainability specialists.
- Bachelor's Degree52.2%
- Master's Degree39.1%
- Some College Courses4.4%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate4.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 52.2% |
| Master's Degree | 39.1% |
| Some College Courses | 4.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Carbon Accountant do?
Carbon accountants build greenhouse gas inventories for companies, governments and institutions. They gather activity data such as fuel use, electricity bills, travel records and purchasing data, apply emission factors, and calculate emissions across Scope 1 direct sources, Scope 2 purchased energy, and Scope 3 value chain sources, following the GHG Protocol.
The results go into sustainability reports, regulatory filings such as EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program and California's climate disclosure laws, and voluntary programs like CDP. Carbon accountants also document methods so third-party verifiers can audit the numbers, track reduction targets, and evaluate whether carbon credits and renewable energy purchases meet the standards a company claims.
Day-to-day tasks
- Collect fuel, energy, travel and procurement data from across an organization
- Calculate Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions using standard methods
- Select and document emission factors and calculation approaches
- Prepare emissions disclosures for regulators and reporting frameworks
- Support third-party verification and audits of emissions data
- Track progress against emission reduction targets
- Evaluate carbon credits and renewable energy certificates
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Carbon accounting is desk work in corporate offices, consultancies and agencies, and remote or hybrid arrangements are common. Reporting deadlines and audit cycles create seasonal peaks. Occasional site visits help confirm how facilities actually use energy. The work involves a great deal of spreadsheet and database work, emails to facility contacts gathering data, and meetings with auditors and sustainability teams.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Monitoring3.5
- Active Learning3.3
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Coordination3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Persuasion3.1
- Systems Analysis3.1
- Negotiation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Data mining software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Carbon Accountant?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code CIE) built on O*NET's Sustainability Specialist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Carbon Accountant |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Investigative5.3
- Enterprising5.1
- Conventional4.9
- Social3.0
- Artistic2.5
- Realistic2.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Carbon Accountant
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
- Management
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Construction and Extraction
- Business and Financial Operations
More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with sustainability specialists highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Carbon Accountant$83,050
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Carbon Accountant | $83,050 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Carbon Accountant appears on
Questions
Carbon Accountant: frequently asked questions
How much do Sustainability Specialists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for sustainability specialists. It counts them within sustainability specialist, whose median pay is $83,050 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $62,640 and $114,010, and the top 10% earn $150,010 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Carbon Accountant?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Sustainability Specialists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 52.2% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Carbon Accountant a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.9% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 98,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Carbon Accountant do?
Carbon accountants build greenhouse gas inventories for companies, governments and institutions. A typical task: collect fuel, energy, travel and procurement data from across an organization. Employers most often ask for Business intelligence and data analysis software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Sustainability Specialists the most?
The highest state medians for Sustainability Specialists are District of Columbia ($108,160), Maryland ($101,500), Washington ($100,360) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Alabama moves to the top at $112,854.
What personality type suits a Carbon Accountant?
O*NET scores Sustainability Specialists highest on the Investigative, Enterprising and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENTJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.