Waste disposal and environmental services managers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time waste disposal and environmental services managers in the UK earned a median £49,763 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 27% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 58th of 382 occupations on this measure.
Median full-time pay: women £19.10 an hour, men £26.17 an hour.
ASHE counts roughly 9,000 employee jobs, 89% full-time.
From £40,000 in 2021, the median is up 24.4%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 25,500 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 | – | £652.30* | £15.94* | – | £630.00* | £15.92* |
| 25th percentile | £33,884* | £698.90* | £16.31* | – | £647.30* | £16.34* |
| 30th percentile | £38,039* | £729.00* | £17.70* | – | £698.50* | £17.94* |
| 40th percentile | £47,509* | £907.50* | £24.06* | £40,226* | £786.30* | £23.98* |
| Median (50th percentile) | £49,763* | £968.40* | £25.87* | £48,927* | £943.40* | £25.10* |
| 60th percentile | £52,843* | £1,057.20* | £27.48* | £51,295* | £987.70* | £26.32* |
| 70th percentile | – | £1,133.40* | £30.14* | – | £1,113.50* | £28.86* |
| Mean | £51,701 | £995.90 | £25.74 | £47,586 | £939.30 | £25.62 |
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 | £40,000* | £775.30 | £19.64* | £35,537* | £766.60* | 10* |
| 2022 revised | – | £815.50* | £20.93* | – | £757.20* | 8* |
| 2023 revised | £49,123* | £888.40* | £22.39 | £47,190* | £888.40* | 9* |
| 2024 revised | £48,321* | £962.70 | £24.61 | £47,704* | £958.60 | 10* |
| 2025 provisional | £49,763* | £968.40* | £25.87* | £48,927* | £943.40* | 9* |
Waste disposal and environmental services managers by region
UK: 25,500 (± 6,200), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What waste disposal and environmental services managers do
Waste disposal and environmental services managers plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the operations and development of waste disposal and related environmental services facilities within private firms or public authorities. (ONS SOC 2020, 1254)
Also covers: environmental manager (refuse disposal), manager (waste disposal and environmental services), recycling plant manager, scrap metal dealer, cleansing manager, contract manager, environmental manager, general dealer, incinerator manager, landfill manager, operations manager, rag dealer, rag man, reclaim manager, reclamation manager, recycling manager, salvage merchant and scrap broker (36 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Determines staffing, financial, material and other short- and long-term requirements
- Manages and delegates tasks to staff and co-ordinates the maintenance and optimum utilisation of waste disposal and related equipment to provide an efficient service
- Monitors levels of waste disposal, recycling and related environmental services, compiles statistics and produces reports
- Liaises with members of the local community to educate and promote the concept of recycling and appropriate waste management
- Keeps up to date with new legislation and liaises with appropriate regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with legislation regarding waste disposal and environmental services
- Co-ordinates the resources and activities relating to the procurement, collection, storage, processing and sale of scrap metal and related products
Entry is possible with a variety of academic qualifications, including a degree or equivalent qualification in a related subject, and/or relevant experience. Apprenticeships and NVQs at levels 3 and 4 and professional qualifications are available. Professional qualifications are available from the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management and may be mandatory in some operational management posts.
Related
Managers and proprietors in other services (median £45,006) · Hairdressing and beauty salon managers and proprietors · Managers and directors in the creative industries · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026