The Rise Of Carbon Removal Jobs: A Look At The CDRjobs 2024 Salary Report

CDRjobs, the platform for job openings in the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) space, has just released its first annual report titled CDRjobs 2024 Salary Report.

To achieve this, the industry needs to grow exponentially, with annual CO2 removal rising from today’s 2Gt to a staggering 9.8Gt by 2050 (State of CDR 2024). 

This rapid expansion mirrors the explosive growth seen in the solar industry over the past quarter-century.

Despite economic headwinds, the report says, the CDR industry is experiencing a boom, with a staggering 500% annual growth rate. 

Thus, 2024 is shaping up to be a record year for the sector, attracting a surge of new talent.

Connecting People with Purposeful Jobs in Carbon Removal

CDRjobs was created with a clear mission: empower the transition of thousands, and potentially millions, into the CDR sector. It’s a one-stop hub for all CDR-related jobs, providing both employers and job seekers with the crucial insights needed to make informed decisions. 

Launched in May 2024, the site has already compiled an impressive database of 1,704 jobs across 211 companies working on carbon removal solutions.

Relevant: Carbon Removal Jobs Platform CDRjobs Launches To Spur Industry Growth

The 2024 CDRjobs Salary Report offers an unprecedented analysis of compensation trends within the industry. 

Data was collected from two primary sources: a voluntary, anonymous survey conducted in June (gathering 399 responses from 39 countries) and public salary information included in job postings (a minority at 25%, yielding 432 salaries).

Transparency: Empowering Employers and Job Seekers

The report argues that transparent salary data empowers job seekers with knowledge of fair compensation expectations, while ensuring employers offer competitive salaries. 

Notably, less than half of the companies tracked currently include salary details in their job postings, while companies like Charm Industrial, Heirloom, Svante, and Carbon Engineering are setting an example by consistently offering salary transparency.

The report authors hope to see it spark conversations and collaborations, which will help build an industry that fosters fairness for everyone.

Relevant: Carbon Business Council Releases Policy Primer on Demand-Side Support For CDR

Key findings include:

• Geographically concentrated: 87% of all CDR jobs are located in just 7 countries.
• Engineering in demand: Engineering roles make up nearly a third of all positions (32%), followed by project management (15%) and business development/sales (10%).
• Global median salary: $115,000 annually.
• Top-paying roles: Software Engineering ($131,000), Policy ($130,000), and Human Resources ($126,000).
• Gender gap in leadership: While no gender pay gap was detected, women are significantly underrepresented in leadership positions.