SOC 2483 Business, media and public service professionals

Environmental health professionals Salary

Median salary £40,044 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £40,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For environmental health professionals, £41,725 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +7.0% versus the national average.

About this role

Environmental health professionals protect public health by enforcing legislation on food safety, housing conditions, pollution control and workplace safety. They inspect premises, investigate complaints and take enforcement action when standards are not met.

Key responsibilities

Inspecting food businesses for compliance
Investigating noise, pollution and housing complaints
Enforcing environmental health legislation
Advising businesses on health and safety compliance
Responding to infectious disease outbreaks

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires a CIEH-accredited degree in Environmental Health followed by supervised practice. Chartered EHP status is the professional standard.

Career outlook

Significant workforce shortages in local authority teams. Food safety and housing standards sustain strong demand.

Key skills

Environmental health legislation Food safety and HACCP Investigation and enforcement Risk assessment Report writing

Common industries

Local authorities
Food Standards Agency
Health and Safety Executive
Private consultancies
Port health authorities

Data coverage

SOC code 2483

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 10,000

Median Salary

£40,044

Mean Salary

£41,848

Jobs (000s)

10k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

Median: £40,044

P10: --P25: --Median: £40kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Mid Level

£40,044

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +17.3%Real growth: -15.0%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 0.7%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£40,044

Full-time Only

£41,725

Full-time premium: +£1,681

Environmental health professionals salary: common questions

How much do environmental health professionals earn in the UK?

Environmental health professionals earn a median of £41,725 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £41,725 a good salary in the UK?

For environmental health professionals, £41,725 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +7.0% versus the national average.

Have environmental health professionals salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median environmental health professionals pay has risen from £34,844 to £41,725 — +20% in cash terms, or -13% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for environmental health professionals?

Male environmental health professionals earn a median £40,018 and female environmental health professionals £39,723 — a gap of +1.0% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).