FY27 ESG, Environment & Sustainability Remuneration Report
7th Edition · Australia
Since 2012, Talent Nation has been a leading executive search and recruitment firm for sustainability, ESG, environment, climate and responsible investment professionals across Australia and New Zealand.
Our seventh annual report draws on confidential data from 1,531 professionals to show what the sector is paid, and how it is feeling.
1,531
professionals contributed data
17
role types benchmarked
13
industry sectors
54
pages of data and analysis
The year in context
Tighter budgets, a heavier compliance load
Rising energy prices, inflation of 4.0% and four rate rises in 2026 have meant tighter budgets and slower hiring for many organisations. At the same time, Group 2 entities began mandatory climate reporting under AASB S2 from 1 July 2026, and the reformed EPBC Act and new National Environmental Protection Agency commenced with significantly higher penalties.
The result is less a retreat from sustainability than a redistribution of it, with accountability moving closer to finance, risk and legal, and more emphasis on assurance-ready data than statements of ambition. The people doing the work are feeling it.
About the report
Seven years of sector data
We started this report in 2019 because reliable employment data for our sector simply did not exist. Seven editions on, it is widely referenced by hiring managers, industry publications and mainstream media.
This year, 1,531 professionals from every state and territory shared their data. Every participant receives a free copy, and the full report is now available to everyone else for $195 including GST.
FY27 Key Findings
Pay kept pace with wages, not prices, as the compliance load grew
$251,948
Average Total Actual Remuneration, up 3.1% on FY26
8.8%
Gender pay gap across all roles (8.5% in FY26)
57%
Stretched to the point of impact or beyond (54% in FY26)
33%
Say executive incentives are tied to ESG (37% in FY26, 43% in FY25)
- Average pay rose in line with national wage growth (3.2%) but below headline inflation of 4.0%, so many professionals went backwards in real terms.
- Senior in-house leadership softened: Heads of Sustainability down 3.4%, Heads of Environment down 2.5% and Chief Sustainability Officers down 3.6%, largely due to lower incentives.
- Sustainability Reporting Manager is benchmarked as its own role for the first time.
- Available headcount is a key challenge for 39% of respondents, up from 34%.
- Growth was strongest at practitioner level, including Senior Sustainability Advisors (+4.8%) and Sustainable Finance/Responsible Investment Managers (+5.6%). Director/Partner pay in consulting rose 9.5%.
- Chief Sustainability Officers remain the highest paid role, with average Total Potential Remuneration of $770,041.
- Reporting & Disclosures is now a priority for 53% of respondents (48% in FY26), yet 54% see mandatory climate disclosure mainly as a compliance workload.
- 59% like or love their job, broadly steady on 60% in FY26.
What's inside
Valuable insights to support informed decisions
Whether you are budgeting for headcount, making the case for your team or weighing up your next move, the report gives you independent numbers to work from.
Pay for 17 roles
Fixed pay (including super), short and long-term incentives, Total Actual and Total Potential remuneration across sustainability, ESG and sustainable finance, environment and consulting.
Industry, state and employer type
Every role broken down across 13 industry sectors, each state and territory, and listed, private, government, NGO and other organisation structures.
Role profiles and trends since FY20
A two-page profile for each role: pay over time, experience and tenure, skills, priorities and the challenges people face.
Gender pay gap
The gap across the sector and within each role, and how incentives drive it.
How the sector feels
Job satisfaction, stress, whether people feel fairly paid, working from home and the non-financial benefits that matter most.
Position descriptions
Downloadable position descriptions for every role in the report.
Get your copy
Download the FY27 ESG, Environment & Sustainability remuneration trends and insights today
- The full 54-page report as a PDF, delivered straight after payment
- Position descriptions for all 17 roles
- Receipt emailed to you for your records
- Secure card payment with Stripe
FY27 Remuneration Report · Australia
$195 AUD incl. GST
Need wider distribution rights or to pay by invoice? Email us.
Survey Participants: Your complimentary copy of the FY27 report is already in your inbox.
Cannot find it? Contact insights@talentnation.com.au.
FY27 · Aotearoa New Zealand edition
FY27 Talent Nation Aotearoa New Zealand Remuneration Report
Available for purchase from 10th November 2026
Historic Australian & Aotearoa New Zealand editions
Previous editions are free to download.
Questions
How do I receive the report?
Straight after payment you’ll get a download link on screen and by email.
Is GST included?
Yes. $195 includes GST, and your receipt is a valid tax invoice.
Can I share it with my team?
The report is for the purchaser’s use. You’re welcome to cite individual figures with attribution to Talent Nation. To share or republish it more widely, talk to us about a licence.
I completed the survey. Do I need to pay?
No. Every survey participant receives a free copy ahead of wider release.
Can I pay by invoice?
Yes. Email us with your purchase order details.
Get in touch.
If you have questions, or would like more detail, then our team is here to help. Experience the difference of working with a professional, market-leading ESG recruiter that is passionate about accelerating impact. We do this by supporting organisations to secure exceptional talent, and individuals to find a role in which they can thrive.
Speak with one of our experienced Recruitment Consultants today or submit your enquiry for one of the team to contact you directly.