What does an environmental planner do?
Environmental planners integrate environmental considerations into planning and development processes. Their role is to ensure that proposed projects meet environmental regulations and sustainability targets, particularly in sectors such as transport, energy, and housing.
They prepare environmental assessments, advise on land use and ecological impact, and help mitigate potential harm to biodiversity, air and water quality, and natural landscapes. Environmental planners work closely with developers, planning authorities, and environmental bodies to align project delivery with environmental policy and legislation, such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive and UK-specific frameworks.
How much does an environmental planner earn?
In 2025,Environmental Planners earned an average salary of £46,000 per year. Senior professionals, including principal and associate-level environmental planners, earned an average of £56,000, while managerial and director-level roles averaged £75,000. For contract positions, An environmental planners' hourly rate ranges from £35 to £68 per hour, reflecting steady demand across both the public and private sectors for professionals specialising in environmental assessment and sustainable development.
This information is drawn from Carrington West's salary surveys, created every 6 months to provide invaluable market analysis and salary benchmarking resources to built environment professionals. View and download the full documents below.
What industries do environmental planners work in?
Carrington West recruits environmental planners for contract and permanent roles in town planning, transport, energy and housing. |
You can use the link below to search for environmental planner roles with leading public and private sector organisations across the UK through Carrington West's job search.