The pay gap between men and women has narrowed significantly, with female professionals earning 12.5% less than men, compared to 15.1% last year, according to the 2015 IEMA practitioners' survey.
The poll, which attracted responses from 1,238 members, found that the median salary for men in 2014 was £40,000, while women earned £35,000.
When age was taken into account, women in the 25–29 age bracket were paid 6.9% more than men of the same age.
Almost three-quarters (73.5%) of environmental practitioners reported a pay rise during 2014, with median salaries now standing at £38,000 a year. The proportion of respondents reporting a pay increase in 2014 was significantly higher than in last year’s poll, when just under 60% of participants said they received a pay rise.
Job satisfaction has also improved this year, with 71.5% of environment and sustainability practitioners now satisfied or very satisfied in their job role, up from 65.1% the previous year.
IEMA members working in business or industry earned more in 2014 (a median of £41,000 a year) than their public sector and academic counterparts (£34,000, while salaries for those in the voluntary and third sector are lower still (£28,500).
Read the full results of the 2015 practitioners’ survey here.
