Environmental consultant
Career outlook for environmental consultant
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£25,000
£25,000
Experienced
£50,000
£50,000
Currently employed in Scotland
6,600
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You’d evaluate the environmental impact of new developments or industries, providing technical advice and assessments for your clients.
You might advise on any issue including:
- Renewable energy
- Flood risk
- Waste and recycling
- Carbon emissions
- Climate change and emission management.
You’d need to keep up to date with environmental legislation.
Depending on the project, you could:
- See if sites are suitable for new developments like power stations or wind farms
- Work out the environmental risk from industries like energy or chemical production
- Assess business practices to make sure organisations are meeting environmental laws and regulations
- Collect data in field studies on sites or in buildings
- Investigate contamination and report organisations who break environmental rules
- Respond to environmental accidents and manage cleanup operations
- Advise industry, organisations or the government on issues such as the disposal of waste
You would:
- Analyse and interpret the data gathered in field surveys
- Write scientific reports
- Present your findings and ideas
You might explain to businesses how to meet rules and regulations. You could help them reduce their impact on the environment by changing to ‘greener’ processes and practices. For example, you may work with a chemical company to limit the levels of pollutants it releases into the air.
You’d need to have a good understanding of business practices so you can work with organisations in a competitive commercial world.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
74%
Part-time
15%
Self employed
11%
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- Verbal communication
- Working with technology
- Written communication
- Problem solving
- Researching
- Social conscience
- Attention to detail
- Developing a plan
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Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Qualifications
You would typically require a relevant honours degree (SCQF level 10) such as
- Environmental health
- Geology
- Geography
- Ecology
- Chemistry
Some employers expect the applicant to have a postgraduate qualification (SCQF level 11) in a specialist environmental subject.
To get into a degree usually requires National 5s and three to five Highers.
Entry to a postgraduate qualification requires a degree, with some courses requiring an honours degree.
Useful subjects
- Maths (required by most courses)
- Sciences (required by most courses)
- English
- Geography
- ICT
- Social studies
Helpful to have
- Previous work experience
- A driving licence