jobfacts

Environment professionals

SOC 2020 2152

Environment professionals investigate, address, and advise on a variety of terrestrial and marine environment and resource management issues, including the development and implementation of environmental policies and remedies that address the impacts of human activities and industrial processes on the environment.

Also calledEnvironmental consultantEco consultantCorporate responsibility and sustainability practitionerCorporate responsibility administratorSustainability officerEnvironmental engineerand 33 more titles
Typical full-time pay£43,4002025 Provisional
People in the job80,000across the UK
Demand for workersCritical
New adverts a month1,500→ 0%on last year · 128th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time environment professionals earn between £33,200 and £51,800 a year.

What full-time environment professionals earn, 2025
£43,400 typical£27,000lowest 10%£33,20025%£51,80075%£58,200top 20%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£33,200–£51,800)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£27,000
Lowest 20% earn less than£31,000
25%£33,200
Median£43,400
75%£51,800
Top 20% earn more than£58,200
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £43,400
South East!£48,200
Scotland!£45,300
London!£44,100
East of England!£42,000
West Midlands!£41,700
East Midlands!£35,000
South West!£33,000
North EastNot published by ONS–
North WestNot published by ONS–
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £43,400
South East£48,200 (small sample)
Scotland£45,300 (small sample)
London£44,100 (small sample)
East of England£42,000 (small sample)
West Midlands£41,700 (small sample)
East Midlands£35,000 (small sample)
South West£33,000 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
North WestNot published by ONS
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £36,300
  • 2024 £37,300
  • 2025 Provisional£43,400
↑ 19% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 1,500 jobs for environment professionals are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as critical.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (2 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20262,175
Jul 20261,748
Jun 2026Not published
May 20261,423
Apr 20261,323
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20261,239
Jan 20261,370
Dec 2025937
Nov 20251,565
Oct 20251,776
Sept 20251,612
Aug 20251,560
Jul 20251,751
Jun 20251,674
May 20252,014
Apr 20251,372
Mar 20251,721
Feb 20251,875
Jan 20251,385
Dec 20241,010
Nov 20241,404
Oct 20241,405
Sept 20241,392
Aug 20241,460
Jul 20241,566
Jun 20241,518
May 20241,541
Apr 20241,571
Mar 20241,490
Feb 20241,539
Jan 20241,881
Dec 20231,686
Nov 20231,709
Oct 20231,841
Sept 20231,613
Aug 20231,861
Jul 20231,910
Jun 20232,577
May 20232,769
Apr 20232,090
Mar 20232,473
Feb 20232,641
Jan 20232,862
Dec 20222,639
Nov 20223,108
Oct 20222,843
Sept 20222,713
Aug 20222,695
Jul 20222,883
Jun 20222,562
May 20223,132
Apr 20222,336
Mar 20222,826
Feb 20222,552
Jan 20222,788
Dec 20212,260
Nov 20212,373
Oct 20212,219
Sept 20212,008
Aug 20212,071
Jul 20212,485
Jun 20212,068
May 20212,407
Apr 20211,729
Mar 20212,312
Feb 20211,453
Jan 20211,421
Dec 20201,222
Nov 20201,149
Oct 20201,173
Sept 20201,003
Aug 2020881
Jul 2020872
Jun 2020795
May 2020680
Apr 20201,100
Mar 20201,644
Feb 20201,962
Jan 20201,947
Dec 20191,754
Nov 20191,859
Oct 20191,733
Sept 20191,538
Aug 20191,492
Jul 20191,884
Jun 20191,718
May 20191,671
Apr 20191,226
Mar 20191,464
Feb 20191,288
Jan 20191,535
Dec 20181,015
Nov 20181,347
Oct 20181,477
Sept 20181,739
Aug 20181,385
Jul 20181,312
Jun 20181,458
May 20181,438
Apr 20181,258
Mar 20181,479
Feb 20181,330
Jan 20181,509
Dec 20171,068
Nov 20171,258
Oct 20171,320
Sept 20171,093
Aug 20171,072
Jul 20171,135
Jun 20171,319
May 20171,348
Apr 20171,329
Mar 20171,481
Feb 20171,281
Jan 20171,547
Is there a shortage of environment professionals?
Critical

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was elevated.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsAbove usual
  • Wage growthWell above usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
28%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for science, research, engineering and technology professionals, which includes environment professionals. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London851
Manchester215
Birmingham181
Bristol, City of172
Leeds138
Glasgow City112
Newcastle upon Tyne75
Cardiff66
Reading65
City of Edinburgh64
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where environment professionals are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 69 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from Belgium, India, United States, ranking it 117th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of environment professionals
9.8%!
36%!
23%!
22%!
7.8%!
n/p
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–249.8% (small sample)
25–3436% (small sample)
35–4423% (small sample)
45–5422% (small sample)
55–647.8% (small sample)
65+Not published
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent91%
Higher education below degree!1.1%
A levels or equivalent!5.9%
GCSEs or equivalent!2.8%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent91%
Higher education below degree1.1% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent5.9% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent2.8% (small sample)
No qualificationsNot published

Main employers: regulation of the activities of providing health care, education, cultural services and other social services, excluding social security (16%), engineering activities and related technical consultancy (15%), other professional, scientific and technical activities nec (9.8%), construction of residential and non-residential buildings (5.7%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
91%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
2
from level 6, including degree apprenticeships
Apprenticeships take
2 to 4 years
typically

Routes in

Environmental consultant

You can get into this job through:

University

You'll usually need a degree or postgraduate qualification in environmental science, environmental studies or environmental sustainability.

You might also be able to take a related subject like:

  • biology
  • chemistry
  • geoscience
  • ecology
  • agricultural science
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an Environmental Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

You might also specialise by completing a Soil Scientist Level 7 Apprenticeship, or Spatial Data Specialist Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way of getting experience and a taste of environmental work. It will also give you the opportunity to develop your skills and make contacts.

Organisations who offer volunteering opportunities include:

  • The Conservation Volunteers
  • National Trust
  • The Wildlife Trusts

You can find more opportunities through the Countryside Jobs Service.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

As a graduate you could look for environmental postgraduate training positions offered through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).

In a KTP, you get the opportunity to run a research project together with an organisation and a university or research body. You may also work towards postgraduate qualifications.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Society for the Environment for your professional development and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can discover more about environmental work and training through:

  • Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management
  • Green Careers Hub
  • Green Jobs for Nature
  • Chartered Institute of Wastes Management

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for environmental consultant. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner

You can get into this job through:

University

You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification that includes units on corporate responsibility and sustainability, for example:

  • environment and sustainability
  • energy and engineering
  • transport and logistics
  • economics
  • community development
  • business management
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

College

You could take a course in environmental sustainability or business management.

This may help you get some of the knowledge and skills you need to apply for trainee or apprenticeship roles.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You could begin by doing a:

  • Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Sustainability Business Specialist Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship

These apprenticeships can take between 2 and 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Volunteering

An understanding of the role of sustainability is highly valued by employers and you may have an advantage if you have experience of fundraising, working with volunteers or volunteering yourself.

You can find opportunities through the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) or Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) to:

  • gain professional recognition
  • find training opportunities
  • make industry contacts
Further information

You can discover more about sustainability work and training through the Green Careers Hub.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioner. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

2 for this job
Level 6About 4 yearsDegree

Environmental practitioner

You gain
Professionally approved or accredited BSc or BA (Hons) Environmental Sciences degree (or…
Leads to
Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)
Employers may ask for
Entry requirements will be decided by individual employers and with the training provider. Candidates might have three A-levels, equivalent relevant Level 3…
Details on Skills England
Level 7About 2 yearsDegree

Sustainability business specialist

You gain
MSc Sustainability
Leads to
The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • identifies contamination of land, air or water and assesses any adverse impact on the environment
  • advises on and provides solutions for mitigating the effects of such contamination
  • implements remediation works
  • carries out environment-related desk-based research and fieldwork to collect, analyse and interpret data to determine their validity, quality and significance
  • carries out or assists in environmental audits and environmental impact assessments
  • communicates scientific and technical information to relevant audiences in an appropriate form, via reports, workshops, educational events, public hearings
  • assists organisations to conduct their activities in an environmentally appropriate manner
  • implements, reviews and advises on regulatory and legislative standards, guidelines and policies
  • provides professional guidance to clients, government agencies, regulators and other relevant bodies, having regard for sustainable approaches and solutions

Skills

  • analyse environmental data
  • develop environmental policy
  • assess environmental impact
  • ensure compliance with environmental legislation
  • write work-related reports
  • carry out environmental audits
  • promote environmental awareness
  • advise on nature conservation
  • carry out training in environmental matters
  • conduct environmental site assessments
  • conduct environmental surveys
  • conserve natural resources
  • educate people about nature
  • implement environmental protection measures

Knowledge

  • environmental legislation
  • biology
  • ecology
  • environmental policy
  • chemistry
  • pollution prevention
  • botany
  • forest ecology

Suits people who like

  • Working with ideas and solving problems
  • Practical, hands-on work

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for science, research, engineering and technology professionals, a group of 28 jobs that includes environment professionals.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 18%about 394,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.3 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

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