Conservation professionals: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time conservation professionals in the UK earned a median £40,083 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £1,044 above the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 129th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
Median full-time pay: women £37,156 a year, men £42,210 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 19,000 employee jobs, 89% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 31.4% (from £30,506), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 21,900 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th percentile | £32,582 | £584.30 | £16.14 | £29,439 | £554.40 | £15.91 |
| 25th percentile | £33,439 | £622.30 | £17.06 | £32,533 | £570.00 | £16.63 |
| 30th percentile | £34,377 | £638.60 | £17.77 | £33,313 | £619.90 | £17.55 |
| 40th percentile | £36,496 | £682.10 | £18.30 | £34,569 | £664.40 | £18.25 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £40,083 | £740.00 | £20.12 | £37,949 | £700.10 | £19.77 |
| 60th percentile | £43,119 | £834.50 | £21.50 | £42,599 | £776.50 | £21.24 |
| 70th percentile | £44,733* | £873.80* | £23.96* | £43,784* | £856.10* | £23.94* |
| 75th percentile | – | £949.70* | £25.05* | – | £897.90* | £24.63* |
| Mean | £44,433 | £817.50 | £21.90 | £42,224 | £779.20 | £21.67 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £30,506* | £617.30* | £16.80* | £28,660* | £601.00 | 13* |
| 2022 revised | £36,675 | £623.50* | £16.94* | £31,199* | £574.40* | 13* |
| 2023 revised | £36,431 | £714.50 | £18.96 | £32,843* | £641.30 | 16* |
| 2024 revised | £36,032 | £742.50 | £19.64 | £33,969 | £688.80 | 18* |
| 2025 provisional | £40,083 | £740.00 | £20.12 | £37,949 | £700.10 | 19* |
Conservation professionals by region
UK: 21,900 (± 5,700), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What conservation professionals do
Conservation professionals are responsible for ensuring that landscapes, habitats and species are protected and enhanced via appropriate management and conservation. They promote public understanding and awareness of the natural environment and help to develop and implement appropriate policies to achieve these objectives. They manage water related impacts on the land and surrounding buildings and create safe environments around habitats for public access. (ONS SOC 2020, 2151)
Also covers: conservation officer, countryside officer, ecologist, heritage manager, land management adviser, landscape scientist, marine conservationist, conservancy officer, conservation adviser, conservation manager, countryside adviser, countryside manager, district officer, divisional officer, ecological consultant, ecology officer, heritage officer and marine ecologist (33 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Promotes and implements local and national biodiversity action plans, particularly with regard to threatened species and habitats
- Carries out environmental impact assessments and field surveys
- Implements, evaluates and monitors schemes for the management and protection of natural habitats
- Provides advice and information to government at national and local levels, clients, landowners, planners and developers to facilitate the protection of the natural environment
- Liaises with other groups in the selection and maintenance of the Protected Site System including Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Ramsar sites, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and National Nature Reserves (NNRs)
- Maintains and develops knowledge in relevant policy areas within a national and European legislative context
Entrants normally require a degree in a relevant subject, sometimes with a related postgraduate qualification. Entry is also possible with a relevant BTEC/SQA Award or HND. Prior practical work experience (which may be obtained on a voluntary basis) is needed for most posts. Additional on-the-job training is available
Related
Conservation and environment professionals (median £42,275) · Environment professionals · Graphic and multimedia designers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026