Green Jobs UK: 16 Climate Change Careers and What They Pay
From heat pump installers and wind technicians to retrofit coordinators and carbon consultants, here are 16 green jobs in the UK with typical pay, whether you need a degree, and the realistic route into each.
By Tony Musso on
The UK is legally committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, under the Climate Change Act 2008 as amended in 2019. Meeting that target means changing how we heat homes, generate power, build, travel and run businesses, and every one of those changes needs people. That's where most climate change career opportunities come from: not only in research labs, but in trades, consultancies, councils and construction sites.
This guide lists 16 green jobs in the UK, what they pay using our career data, and the realistic route into each.
Green jobs at a glance
| Career | Typical starting pay | Senior pay | Degree needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat pump installer | £30,000 to £35,000 | £50,000 to £65,000 | No |
| Solar panel installer | £28,000 to £33,000 | £50,000 to £65,000 | No |
| EV charger installer | £28,000 to £35,000 | £60,000 to £80,000 | No |
| Low carbon heating engineer | £28,000 to £35,000 | £60,000 to £85,000 | No |
| Wind turbine technician | £30,000 to £35,000 | £50,000 to £65,000+ | No |
| Offshore wind technician | £35,000 to £45,000 | £75,000 to £100,000+ | No |
| Retrofit coordinator | £35,000 to £42,000 | £55,000 to £70,000 | No |
| Energy assessor | £25,000 to £32,000 | £45,000 to £55,000 | No |
| BREEAM assessor | £28,000 to £35,000 | £55,000 to £75,000 | Usually |
| Renewable energy engineer | £32,000 to £40,000 | £70,000 to £100,000+ | Usually |
| Energy storage specialist | £35,000 to £50,000 | £90,000 to £140,000 | Usually |
| Sustainability consultant | £28,000 to £35,000 | £65,000 to £90,000+ | Usually |
| Carbon consultant | £35,000 to £42,000 | £70,000 to £90,000 | Usually |
| Environmental consultant | £26,000 to £32,000 | £55,000 to £75,000 | Usually |
| Ecologist | £24,000 to £30,000 | £50,000 to £70,000 | Usually |
| Climate data analyst | £35,000 to £42,000 | £70,000 to £90,000 | Usually |
Pay figures are the ranges on each career page. Senior pay usually means team leaders, specialists, managers or, in the trades, people running their own business.
Green trades: the quickest way in
Half of the jobs in the table don't need a degree. They need practical training and, usually, a recognised certification.
Heat pump installer and low carbon heating engineer. Most installers are plumbers or heating engineers who add heat pump training. You'll need to understand system design and heat loss, and work for or become an installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) if customers want government grants such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Handling refrigerants in some systems also requires F-gas certification.
Solar panel installer. Usually an electrician or roofer who adds solar PV training. Again, MCS certification matters because customers want certified installs.
EV charger installer. You need to be a qualified electrician first, then add a specialist electric vehicle charging installation course. If you're starting from scratch, our guide on how to become an electrician sets out the routes.
Wind turbine and offshore wind technicians. Many come from electrical, mechanical or military engineering backgrounds. You'll need Global Wind Organisation (GWO) safety training, and offshore roles also need an offshore medical. Offshore work typically runs on rotation, such as two weeks on and two weeks off, and the pay reflects the time away from home.
These trades are among the most practical, hands-on careers on our AI-proof jobs list, and several sit alongside the options in our guide to the highest paying trades in the UK.
Buildings and retrofit
Heating and powering buildings is one of the biggest sources of UK emissions, so making existing homes more efficient is a large and growing area of work.
- Retrofit coordinators manage home energy upgrades under the PAS 2035 standard, from assessment through to checking the work. The usual qualification is the Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management. Many come from surveying, building control or construction management.
- Energy assessors produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). Domestic assessors need a Level 3 qualification in domestic energy assessment and must join an accreditation scheme. It's a realistic route for career changers and can be done self-employed.
- BREEAM assessors rate the sustainability of new buildings using the BRE's BREEAM scheme, and usually come from architecture, engineering or building services backgrounds.
Consulting and corporate sustainability
Businesses need people to measure their emissions, meet reporting rules and plan reductions.
- Sustainability consultants advise organisations on environmental strategy and reporting. Many start with a degree in environmental science, geography or engineering and join a consultancy or an in-house team.
- Carbon consultants measure carbon footprints and build reduction plans, using standards such as the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064.
- Environmental consultants handle environmental impact assessments, contaminated land, permits and compliance for developers and industry.
Membership of IEMA, the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, is widely recognised in these roles, and its certificate courses are a common way for career changers to get started.
Science, data and nature
- Ecologists survey habitats and protected species, often for planning applications, and usually have a degree in ecology, biology or environmental science. Field seasons in spring and summer are busy. The professional body is CIEEM, the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
- Climate data analysts work with climate and emissions data for consultancies, insurers, energy firms and public bodies. Strong data skills matter as much as climate knowledge.
- Hydrologists study water and flood risk, a growing area as flooding becomes more frequent, and environmental scientists work across regulators, consultancies and research.
Engineering
Renewable energy engineers design and manage wind, solar and other renewable projects, and energy storage specialists work on battery systems that balance the grid. Both usually need an engineering degree or a degree apprenticeship. Our list of high paying engineering careers compares these with other engineering paths.
Courses that can help
Some of our partners' courses are matched to these careers. Prices and lengths are as listed when we checked in October 2026.
| Course | Provider | Matched to | Length and price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CQI IRCA EMS ISO 14001:2026 Foundation Course | ISOQAR Academy | Environmental consultant, sustainability consultant | 1 day, £525 |
| GHG ISO 14064 Inventory, Reductions, Removals & Verification Course | ISOQAR Academy | Carbon consultant, environmental consultant | 2 days, £945 |
| Ecology: Ecology & Environment | Royal Open College | Ecologist | Self-paced online, £24.99 |
The ISOQAR courses are professional training for people working with environmental management systems and carbon reporting. The Royal Open College course is a low-cost CPD introduction, useful for testing your interest but not a substitute for a relevant degree or field experience. You can also browse our ISO 50001 energy management courses.
How to choose
If you want the quickest route into paid green work, look at the trades or energy assessment. If you have a science, engineering or geography degree, consulting, ecology and engineering roles use it directly. If you're changing career, think about which existing skills transfer: electricians and plumbers move into installation, surveyors into retrofit, analysts into climate data.
Not sure which green career suits you? Career Compass matches your interests, personality and strengths to UK careers, with pay data for each.
Frequently asked questions
What are green jobs?
Green jobs are roles that help cut emissions, protect the environment or adapt to climate change. In the UK they include heat pump and solar installers, wind technicians, retrofit coordinators, energy assessors, sustainability and carbon consultants, ecologists and renewable energy engineers.
What green jobs can I do without a degree?
Heat pump, solar panel and EV charger installation, wind turbine maintenance, retrofit coordination and domestic energy assessment can all be reached through practical training and certification rather than a degree.
What is the highest paying green job?
In our career data, energy storage specialists and offshore wind technicians have some of the highest senior pay, at up to £140,000 and £100,000 or more respectively. Renewable energy engineers and [sustainability managers](/careers/sustainability-manager/) also earn well at senior level.
Are green jobs in demand in the UK?
The UK's legal net zero target for 2050 means continuing work in home heating, renewable power, building retrofit and corporate carbon reporting. Demand in individual areas can rise and fall with government schemes and funding, so check current job adverts in your region.
Related reading
Comparing careers? Here is which career test is actually worth taking before you decide.