The Environment, Sustainability, and ESG jobs market continues to grow at pace, and it's now receiving a further boost from the UK Government’s recently announced £725 billion infrastructure investment. Major national projects like HS2 and the ambition to build 1.5 million new homes are driving demand for Environment and Sustainability professionals across the construction and infrastructure sectors.
While we’re no longer seeing the same extreme salary surges we reported two years ago, the market remains very much candidate-short, with competition for skilled professionals pushing salary expectations higher, particularly in sectors linked to large-scale development and infrastructure projects.
From Net Zero targets to biodiversity commitments, and from investor scrutiny to internal culture shifts, organisations are under increasing pressure to deliver credible, measurable sustainability performance.
Salary Benchmarks
Based on our latest market insights and recent data across construction and major infrastructure clients, here’s a guide to current salary expectations within the sector:
Environment Coordinator: £30,000 – £40,000
Environment Advisor: £40,000 – £55,000
Senior Environment / Sustainability Advisor: £55,000 - £65,000
Environment / Sustainability Manager: £65,000 - £80,000
Head of Environment / Sustainability: £80,000 - £110,000
Director of Environment / Sustainability: £120,000 - £200,000
These figures typically include an additional package, such as a company car or car allowance, plus hybrid and flexible working options.
Head of / Director-Level Sustainability Roles
At the Director and Head of Sustainability level, we are seeing significant variation in salaries. This often depends on how the Sustainability function is structured. For example, some organisations separate the Carbon and Energy Lead into distinct roles, while others include this within the Sustainability Director's remit, with a Carbon Lead reporting into them.
As expected, the latter commands a higher base salary.
These senior positions are typically accompanied by substantial bonuses or long-term incentive plans.
Key Sustainability and Environment Candidate Trends
Flexibility is becoming a non-negotiable: Environment and Sustainability professionals increasingly expect hybrid working. Flexibility isn’t a perk anymore, it’s becoming the standard.
Specialist experience commands higher salaries: Hiring managers seeking candidates with highly specific sector or regulatory experience (e.g. large-scale infrastructure, carbon reporting) often need to offer salaries at the upper end of the scale.
Managerial salaries have leapt: Just a few years ago, pre-boom, Environment Managers could often be secured for £50,000 - £60,000. Today, salaries below £65,000 are frequently seen as uncompetitive in high-demand sectors.
Company sustainability credentials matter: Candidates are doing their due diligence. A company’s sustainability performance, both in delivery and culture, can significantly influence a candidate’s decision to engage or accept an offer. If an organisation lacks credibility or clear direction in this area, top-tier professionals will often look elsewhere.
Speed is critical in the interview process: The best candidates are often in multiple processes and can be snapped up quickly. A well-structured, timely interview process that maintains momentum not only keeps candidates engaged but also positions employers as decisive and attractive to work for.
How employers can stay competitive
With the market changing rapidly, it’s vital for employers to set realistic salary expectations early in the recruitment process. Understanding what skill sets are available at each salary level, and what professionals are actively seeking is key to a successful hire.
Engaging a specialist recruitment partner early can save time, align expectations with the market reality, and dramatically improve your chances of securing top-tier talent.
If you are looking to benchmark current salaries in your team or are seeking recruitment support, feel free to reach out to the team for a discreet conversation.
Jess Rowe is a Consultant in Irwin and Colton’s Sustainability and Environment Team. Contact Jess at Jessica.Rowe@irwinandcolton.com or +44 (0)1923 432 693.