Careers and Earning Potential
UH West Oʻahu’s Bachelor of Applied Science with a concentration in Sustainable Community Food Systems (BAS-SCFS) prepares students for a variety of careers including natural resource management, agriculture and food policy, K-12 education, sustainable inputs and value-added food businesses, social enterprise, non-profit organization management, social work and certified organic agriculture production and research.
A job in sustainability encompasses the concept of stewardship—the responsible management of resources. Sustainability professionals seek to improve an organization’s environmental, social, and economic impact. Some have specific titles such as sustainability manager and director of corporate responsibility. Sustainability professionals in other roles may have experience as industrial managers, logistics (transportation, storage, and distribution) managers, environmental scientists, civil engineers, or recycling coordinators.
Future careers in sustainability management include:
- Farmer, rancher and other agricultural managers: $69,300
- Agriculture and food scientist: $58,610
- Kindergarten through elementary school teacher: $53,090
- High school teacher: $55,050
- Soil and plant scientists: $58,940
- Environmental scientists and specialists, including health: $62,920
- Conservation scientists: $59,930
- Social and community service managers: $59,970
- Food service managers: $47,960
- Environmental engineers: $79,050
These annual salary ranges for related fields of work are according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Food Access Coordinator for the County of Hawaii: $60,000.00
- Organic Certification Specialist: $48,000.00
- Organic Farm Manager: $38,000.00
- School Garden Educator: $32,640.00
- Food Access Coordinator | Farmer’s Market Manager | Double Bucks Coordinator: $30,000.00
- Americorps VISTA: $24,000 + $6,000 educational stipend