The fifth annual survey of IEMA members' remuneration and benefits strikes a positive note for pay and job satisfaction
This year’s salary survey of IEMA members takes place against the continuing backdrop of economic uncertainty, rising unemployment, severe public sector pay restraint and a subdued pay climate generally. But the results indicate that many environment practitioners have much to be optimistic about in terms of the salaries they are able to command as recognised IEMA members and the satisfaction they feel in their professional roles.
The government’s 2011 annual survey of hours and earnings (ASHE) found a median annual pay level of £36,997 for those employed as “professionals” and £29,554 for “associate professional and technical” staff – the most relevant standard industrial classification (SIC) groups for comparison with IEMA practitioners.
The IEMA annual pay survey reveals that an environment professional with Full membership earns a median total income of £45,250, while an Associate earns £35,000 – so most IEMA members can anticipate exceeding the income expected for their SIC group.
The IEMA pay survey drew 2,324 responses from UK practitioners. These environment managers, consultants and researchers provided pay and conditions data based on their 2011 earnings (for more details read the survey sample).
Key findings:
- At £40,000, the median earnings of environment professionals in business and industry are significantly higher than those of their colleagues working in other parts of the economy, such as the public sector and consultancy.
- Practitioners working in financial and legal services have the highest overall earnings, with a margin of £7,000 over the next highest industry.
- There is a strong, positive relationship between an individual environment professional’s annual income from employment and their IEMA membership level.
- The differential between the earnings of male and female environment professionals is 13.9%, lower than the national average.
- The pay levels of more than one-third (36.1%) were frozen in 2011, but over half (54.2%) received a salary increase.
- The majority of environment professionals are happy in their work – more than two-thirds (68.9%) are satisfied or very satisfied in their roles.
- Almost two-thirds report an increase in the scope and variety (65.3%), and/or quantity (63.9%), of their workload in 2011, with more than one-third (35.8%) working longer hours.
- The three main benefits practitioners receive are a mobile phone or PDA, a contributory pension scheme and being provided with a laptop or home computer.
Read the full survey results:
- Earnings by seniority in sector
- Earnings by industrial sector and region
- Earnings by IEMA membership level
- Earnings by highest qualification
- The gender gap: Men and women's pay
- Changes to pay in 2011
- Workload and job satisfaction
- Benefits and professional development
- The 2012 IEMA survey sample
- Who is the environmentalist?
