Annual Salary
variable
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Armed forces or Security or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Armed forces or Security or go back to all job sectors
Search and rescue workers are volunteers who help lost and injured people to safety from mountains, rivers, caves and coastal areas.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: days / nights / weekends; on call
There will be
0.2% fewer Search and rescue worker jobs in 2027.
Your day-to-day duties may include:
You may take part in river, floodwater or cave rescues if you've had specialist training.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in remote rural areas.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and physically and emotionally demanding.
You can get into this work through:
You can do a college course in outdoor education, rock climbing or first aid to learn some of the skills you'll need to join a rescue team.
You'll still need experience in hill walking and map reading if you want to volunteer for a team after completing your course.
You can volunteer to join a search and rescue team. They hold recruitment days during the year, which involve going out with team members who assess your suitability for training.
You'll be expected to have experience in hill walking, reading maps and using a compass. You'll also need knowledge of the rescue team's operational area. Other skills like climbing and first aid will be useful, though not essential.
If you're selected, you'll be given training over a 12-month probationary period. It will include:
After 12 months, your colleagues will decide whether you're ready to join them as a full team member.
You may be able to apply directly if you've got a lot of experience of search and rescue work, for example from serving in the armed forces, acting as a specialist rescue worker in industry or working as a firefighter.
You can contact individual search and rescue teams to find out more about how to join them.
You'll need to:
You'll be expected to commit a certain amount of your time each month to training and call-outs.
You'll also have to supply most of your own equipment, which must meet the rescue team's safety standards.
You can find out more about becoming a search and rescue worker from Mountain Rescue and the British Cave Rescue Council.
You could specialise in particular rescue methods, like swift water and cave rescue, or take on responsibility for rescue dog training or vehicle servicing.
With experience, you could become a rescue team leader, operations co-ordinator or training officer. All positions will be voluntary.
You'll need: