How to Increase Your Salary as an Ecologist in the UK

If you’re working in ecology and wondering how to increase your salary—or you're looking for ecology and environmental jobs with better pay—you’re not alone.

Salaries in the ecology sector have long been a topic of discussion, particularly among early-career professionals or those feeling stuck in a role that doesn’t reflect their skill level.

But the good news is: there are ways to increase your salary as an ecologist. Whether you're employed at an environmental consultancy, local authority, NGO, or self-employed, this blog post breaks down:

• Typical ecology salaries in the UK

• Why salary progression can stall in ecology

• Practical ways to increase your earning potential

• When (and how) to negotiate a raise

• Whether changing jobs could be your best move

  
  

Typical Ecology Salaries in the UK (2025)

Before talking about salary increases, it helps to understand the current landscape. Based on market data from 2025, here’s a rough breakdown of what you can expect across different levels:

Role	Typical UK Salary Range
Graduate Ecologist	£23,000 – £26,000
Consultant Ecologist	£26,000 – £32,000
Senior Ecologist	£32,000 – £40,000
Principal Ecologist	£40,000 – £50,000
Associate/Technical Director	£50,000 – £70,000+

Freelancers or specialist consultants (e.g. bat workers or biodiversity net gain experts) may earn more per day, but without the benefits or job security of permanent roles.

Why Do Ecology Salaries Sometimes Stagnate?

There are a few structural reasons ecology salaries in the UK can plateau:

• High competition at junior levels: The sector is flooded with passionate graduates, which can depress entry-level salaries.

• Flat progression structures: Some organisations don’t have clear steps between job levels or tie progression to years served rather than capability.

• Limited commercial exposure: Roles focused solely on fieldwork or survey support may have fewer opportunities to demonstrate strategic value or bring in business.

• Cultural hesitation around negotiation: Many ecologists, especially those new to the sector, aren’t taught how—or when—to negotiate their salary or role progression.

• Skills shortages at Senior levels creating bottlenecks in mentorship and supervision: When qualified signatories are unavailable or overstretched, it can slow down the process of gaining protected species licences, technical approvals, or stepping into more autonomous roles. This, in turn, delays opportunities for promotion and salary progression across the team.

6 Ways to Increase Your Salary as an Ecologist

If you’re serious about improving your earning potential in ecology, here are practical strategies to help:

1. Diversify Your Skills Beyond Fieldwork

While species surveys are essential, they’re often not the highest-paid part of a project. To increase your value (and your pay), look for experience in:

• Report writing (PEAs, EIAs, HRA, BNG)

• GIS and data analysis

• Project management

• Client liaison and fee proposals

• Licensing applications (e.g. bat, dormouse)

• Mitigation design and habitat creation

  
  

These are some of the skills that can take you from being “support” to “billable lead”—and that can move you into senior or principal roles faster.

2. Get (and Use) Your Protected Species Licences

Holding one or more survey licences—especially for bats, great crested newts, or dormice—can make you significantly more valuable to your employer, especially during peak survey season. It also opens doors to more freelance work and specialist roles.

3. Pursue CIEEM Membership and Chartership

Being a member of CIEEM (or working towards it) shows employers you're serious about your professional development. Chartership can also help you qualify for higher-level roles, leadership positions, or expert witness work—where pay is typically higher.

4. Take on Project or Team Responsibility

Managing projects, mentoring junior ecologists, or leading small teams adds to your perceived value. Even if you’re not officially promoted yet, gaining this experience puts you in a stronger position when negotiating a raise or applying for higher-level roles elsewhere.

5. Ask for a Salary Review—Strategically

If you’ve added new responsibilities or made a measurable impact (e.g. delivered projects, improved efficiency, trained others), you’re within your rights to ask for a salary review.

✅ Do your research: Compare your salary to industry benchmarks

✅ Time it right: Avoid peak survey season or year-end chaos

✅ Make your case: Be specific about your contributions and market value

If your employer values you but is unable to offer more due to budget constraints, see if you can negotiate for other benefits—training budgets, extra leave, flexible hours, or a defined timeline for progression.

6. Explore Higher-Paying Roles at Other Companies

Sometimes, the best way to increase your salary is to move on.

At Greenbridge Recruitment, we regularly speak with experienced ecologists who are being underpaid in their current roles—often by £5–10k compared to industry benchmarks.

Many organisations are willing to pay competitively for ecologists with well-rounded experience, particularly in:

• BNG

• Biodiversity offsetting

• Strategic ecological assessments

• Multi-disciplinary project management

• Mitigation and licensing strategy

  
  

If your current employer can’t offer that progression—or pay—it might be time to explore new opportunities.

Ready to Explore Higher Paying Ecology Jobs?

We work with ecologists all across the UK, from graduate to director level, helping them find roles that are not only better paid, but more aligned with their values and career goals.

Whether you're looking for:

• A promotion-ready role

• A consultancy with a better work-life balance

• Flexible or remote opportunities

• A supportive team that invests in your development

  
  

…we’d love to help.

We know that pay is often not the core motivation behind the work in sectors like Ecology, but increasing your salary isn’t just about chasing money—it’s about recognising your worth, expanding your skills, and putting yourself in the best position to thrive.

With the right support, knowledge, and timing, you can grow your career in ecology and be paid fairly for the value you bring.

Check out our jobs page to browse our live ecology job vacancies, or feel free to get in touch for a confidential chat.