2151 Conservation professionals

In short

• ONS unit group 2151, in minor group 215 (Conservation and environment professionals) and major group 2 (Professional occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): On the list: Table 1, Table 2.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £36,000 (£18.46 per hour)
  • Table 2, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £29,800 (£15.28 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Conservation professionals are responsible for ensuring that landscapes, habitats and species are protected and enhanced via appropriate management and conservation. They promote public understanding and awareness of the natural environment and help to develop and implement appropriate policies to achieve these objectives. They manage water related impacts on the land and surrounding buildings and create safe environments around habitats for public access.

Typical entry routes

Entrants normally require a degree in a relevant subject, sometimes with a related postgraduate qualification. Entry is also possible with a relevant BTEC/SQA Award or HND. Prior practical work experience (which may be obtained on a voluntary basis) is needed for most posts. Additional on-the-job training is available

Tasks

• promotes and implements local and national biodiversity action plans, particularly with regard to threatened species and habitats
• carries out environmental impact assessments and field surveys
• implements, evaluates and monitors schemes for the management and protection of natural habitats
• provides advice and information to government at national and local levels, clients, landowners, planners and developers to facilitate the protection of the natural environment
• liaises with other groups in the selection and maintenance of the Protected Site System including Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Ramsar sites, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and National Nature Reserves (NNRs)
• maintains and develops knowledge in relevant policy areas within a national and European legislative context
• promotes conservation issues via educational talks, displays, workshops and literature and liaison with the media
• prepares applications for funding to other organisations, and assessing applications for funding from other organisations
• carries out research into aspects of the natural world

Related job titles

• Conservation officer
• Countryside officer
• Ecologist
• Heritage manager
• Land management adviser
• Landscape scientist
• Marine conservationist

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on median Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

2151 Conservation professionals

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Conservationists
• Ecologists
• Heritage officers
• Conservation professionals not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£36,000 (£18.46 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

Yes

Table 2: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on 25th percentile Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

2151 Conservation professionals

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

2141

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Conservationists
• Ecologists
• Heritage officers
• Conservation professionals not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£29,800 (£15.28 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

£26,800 (£13.74 per hour)

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

£25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

Yes

Other unit groups in minor group 215

• 2152 Environment professionals

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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