Average environmental salaries declining, says safesearch

Health, safety and environment (HSE) recruitment company safesearch has released the results of its annual remuneration survey, answered by 1200 HSE individuals across 133 companies. The survey revealed there has been an average salary decrease of 4.8% across all environmental roles other than GM/head of level, which is up 2.7%. This is despite an overall increase in remuneration of 3.7% across all safety roles.

The survey of environmental positions shows a declining average total actual remuneration (TAR) at the adviser (-2%), manager (-6.3%) and national manager (-6.2%) levels, with only the GM/head of level roles increasing their average TAR (2.7%). Victoria and Queensland have seen significant declines at all levels. In NSW, where numerous major infrastructure projects are well underway, the market for environmental professionals has bucked the trend, with increases at the adviser (0.5%) and manager (3.5%) level.

The managing director of safesearch, Julie Honore, highlighted key trends in the Australian market that are affecting utilisation and salaries of environmental roles. She stated that the enviro market is currently quite flat and largely compliance based, and that sustainability is still not taken seriously in corporate circles.

Honore also noted that the Abbott government - and previous Coalition state governments in Victoria and Queensland - made a point of ‘cutting green tape’ (environmental regulation), which is what keeps environmental workers in business. However, due to changes in government in these states, safesearch expects to see an uptick in demand for workers and an increase in salaries on the east coast.