Annual Salary
£22,000 to £42,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to New energy or Recycling or go back to all job sectors or go to green jobs
Swap to New energy or Recycling or go back to all job sectors or go to green jobs
Ecologists study the relationship between plants, animals and the environment.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends;
There will be
2.4% more Ecologist jobs in 2027.
As an ecologist you might:
Green job
As an ecologist, you can restore woodlands and peatlands to help tackle climate change. This can have a positive impact on the environment.
Find out more about green careers
You could work in the countryside, at a university, in an office or in a laboratory.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.
You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.
You'll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in a subject like:
You'll usually need:
You might be able to start by applying for an Ecologist Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship.
This usually takes around 3 years to complete.
You'll usually need:
Volunteering is a great way to get practical experience and skills, meet new people and develop useful contacts. This might improve your chances of finding work.
You can find volunteering opportunities with:
You'll need to:
You can join the British Ecological Society, which offers mentoring from experienced ecologists, research news, and education and job search support.
You can find more details about careers in ecology through the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management and Green Jobs for Nature.
You can work for:local authorities; conservation organisations; government or scientific bodies; universities
With experience, you can:become a senior ecologist, leading a team of researchers; be employed as a consultant on sustainable development projects; act as an adviser on biodiversity policy; work in conservation education or scientific journalism; specialise in a particular area, for example the study of insects - entomology
You can find more job specialisms at Green Jobs for Nature.
Ecologists are needed to work with the local authority, businesses and residents to help protect and enhance the biodiversity and natural environments of the West of England, including key priority habitats such as woodland, wetland and grasslands.
There are several different routes you can take to get into working as an Ecologist which you can explore further in the 'Routes into this job' section above.
Click here for an explanation of the different course and apprenticeship levels.
Click here to find a local provider
Click here to search for a local apprenticeship
Click here to search for other university courses
For more local employment opportunities see the 'Live job vacancies by region' section above.
Volunteering is a great way to build experience in ecology and may improve your chances of finding paid work. You can also build up contacts within conservation, which will be useful when looking for jobs. You can find local volunteering opportunities with: Bristol Avon Rivers Trust and Avon Wildlife Trust.
You'll need: