Career guides / Careers in environmental

33 employers, including councils, government, and charities, are seeking environmental professionals across the UK.

Types of environmental roles in the UK

The environmental job category in the public sector spans a wide range of specialisms, from environmental health and enforcement officers, to ecologists and climate change officers.

The most common job titles advertised on Jobs Go Public for environmental professionals include:

• Environmental Health Officer
• Tree / Forestry Officer
• Climate Change / Net Zero / Sustainability Officer
• Ecologist / Biodiversity Officer
• Environmental Protection Officer
• Environmental Analyst
• Environmental Enforcement Officer
• Flood Risk Officer
• Environmental Project Officer
• Pest Control Officer
• Food Safety Officer

Salary overview for environmental jobs in the UK

Environmental health and protection salaries are typically competitive, reflecting the requirement to train in a related degree field for most professional roles.

Typical average salary ranges in 2026:

• Entry level: £34,675 - £38,518 per year
• Mid-level: £43,081 - £48,226 per year
• Senior level: £63,721 - £74,040 per year

FAQs about environmental careers

What are environmental jobs?

Environmental jobs focus on protecting and improving the natural and built environment. In the public sector, this covers a wide range of roles, including Environmental Health Officers, ecology and biodiversity officers, climate change and sustainability professionals, flood risk managers, environmental protection and enforcement officers, countryside rangers, tree officers, and pest control technicians.

Most are based in local councils, though bodies like Natural England, DEFRA, and the Forestry Commission also recruit. It's a diverse field combining science, regulation, policy, and hands-on fieldwork.

How do I get into environmental jobs?

Routes into environmental careers vary by role. For Environmental Health Officer posts, you'll need a CIEH-accredited degree in environmental health, though degree apprenticeships let you earn while training.

Ecology and biodiversity roles typically require a relevant environmental science degree. For entry-level positions, public sector employers offer apprenticeships, trainee posts, graduate schemes, and internships.

Enforcement and pest control roles often require fewer formal qualifications, with on-the-job training provided.

What environmental jobs pay well?

Senior and strategic roles offer the strongest salaries. On our platform, director-level positions such as Director of Clean Energy and Net Zero and Director of Environment and Regulatory Services advertise salaries above £90,000.

Heads of service in climate change, energy, and sustainability typically earn £60,000–£90,000. Corporate managers in biodiversity and climate change advertise around £55,000–£67,000. Senior Environmental Health Officers earn approximately £45,000–£57,000.

What jobs can I do with an environmental science degree?

An environmental science degree opens doors to a wide range of public sector roles. On our platform, relevant positions include ecology and biodiversity officers, sustainability and net zero officers, flood risk officers, countryside rangers, environmental protection officers, and climate change project officers.

With further professional registration, you could also pursue Environmental Health Officer roles. Other options include laboratory scientists, research workers, environmental data analysts, and nature recovery managers. Employers advertising these roles include local councils, Natural England, DEFRA, the Forestry Commission, and the Met Office.

Is environmental health a good career?

Environmental health offers strong career prospects. It's a regulated profession with consistent demand. Environmental Health Officer is the single most commonly advertised role type in our environmental category, accounting for just under a fifth of recent environmental vacancies.

The work is varied, covering food safety, housing standards, pollution control, noise nuisance, and pest management. There's clear progression from trainee and graduate positions through to senior, principal, and management roles.

Public sector employers offer stable employment, the Local Government Pension Scheme, and hybrid working arrangements. It's a career where you make a tangible difference to communities.

What qualifications do I need to work in environmental health?

To qualify as an Environmental Health Practitioner, you need a degree or higher degree accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). This is followed by practical training, a professional portfolio, and assessment by the Environmental Health Registration Board.

A degree apprenticeship route is also available, combining work and study over four years. For those without a degree, entry-level roles such as environmental health technician are accessible, with the option to study part-time. In Scotland, the equivalent registration body is REHIS.

How much do EHOs get paid?

Based on current vacancies on our platform, Environmental Health Officers typically earn between £39,000 and £50,000, with a median starting salary around £42,000. Graduate and trainee EHOs start at approximately £25,000–£35,000.

Senior EHOs earn between £45,000 and £57,000, while principal and management-level positions can reach £60,000 or more. London and the South East tend to offer higher salaries reflecting regional cost of living. These figures don't include additional public sector benefits like the Local Government Pension Scheme and generous annual leave entitlements.