Annual Salary
£24,000 to £38,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Agriculture or Environment or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Agriculture or Environment or go back to all job sectors
RSPCA inspectors investigate complaints about animal cruelty, rescue animals and give advice to animal owners.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts
There will be
2.9% more RSPCA inspector jobs in 2027.
As an RSPCA inspector you could:
You may need to wear a uniform.
You could work in the community, at a client's home, on a farm, at an abattoir or in a court.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, physically and emotionally demanding, dirty and you'll travel often.
You can get into this job by applying directly.
You can get useful experience by volunteering with an animal welfare charity, animal refuge or at one of the RSPCA's own animal care centres.
Do-it also has more information on local opportunities for work with animals.
You could do a course in animal care while you're volunteering, which may help when you apply for a training place with the RSPCA.
You can apply directly for trainee inspector vacancies. You should be willing to move to another part of the country to do your training, if necessary.
To be taken on as a trainee you'll need:
If your initial application is successful, you'll be invited to a selection day where you'll complete a series of assessments and an interview.
You'll need to:
There are lots of different roles in the RSPCA and you may be able to strengthen your application for an inspector job if you've worked in the organisation. Roles include:animal care assistant; events organiser; volunteer co-ordinator
You'll find advice about working with the RSPCA from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
With experience, you could progress to chief inspector then regional superintendent.
You could also move into management or training roles at RSPCA headquarters.
You may be able to apply to do an Animal Care and Welfare Manager Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, if you want to work in an RSPCA animal and wildlife centre.
You'll need: