Environmental practitioners working in consultancies are earning more than those in business and industry for the first time, according to IEMA's annual survey.
The median salary for consultants in 2015 increased by £4,120 to £40,500, from £36,380 in 2014. Meanwhile, the median salary for practitioners working in business and industry declined over the same period by £1,000 to £40,000.
The annual median for IEMA members working in the public sector is £34,000, unchanged from the previous year.
Salaries in academia or research and the third sector have increased from £35,000 to £37,394 and from £28,250 to £35,000 respectively.
The median going rate for members starting out in the environment and sustainability profession is £24,500 a year. By contrast, the median salary for IEMA Fellows is £68,000.
Two-thirds of respondents received a pay increase in the past 12 months, and median earnings for IEMA members (£38,180) remain well ahead of those for full-time employees in the UK generally (£27,600) in 2015.
The relatively high earnings for environment and sustainability practitioners reflect a very well qualified profession. Half have an MA or MSc.
On a less positive note, the profession’s gender pay gap has reached a five-year high, at 16.7%. The analysis shows that the gap starts to appear between ages 25 and 29 and becomes increasingly pronounced. The figure compares with an economy-wide gap in 2015 of 9.4%, which the Office for National Statistics said was the lowest since its annual survey of hours and earnings (ASHE) started in 1997.
To read the full results of this year’s practitioners’ survey, click here.
