Soil scientist : Salary and conditions

Range of typical starting salaries: £16,000- £22,000.
Range of typical salaries with experience (e.g., after 10 to 15 years in the role): £24,000 - £52,000.
Salary at all levels is dependent on a number of variables, including sector, type of organisation, qualifications, experience and tenure with an organisation. Soil scientists operating in the private sector and working for commercial environmental consultancies typically earn more than their counterparts employed by public sector bodies or voluntary organisations.
Working hours may be long and laboratory work and field work may involve some weekend working.
The work involves a combination of laboratory-based, office and outdoor activities.
There are opportunities for self-employment, including independent consultancy work, although this requires extensive experience and specialist expertise.
The profession offers some long-term security of employment in certain established organisations, but many soil scientists work on short-term contracts at the beginning of their career.
Soil scientists work throughout the UK in universities and voluntary, public, governmental and private sector organisations.
Dress code is determined by the work in hand: field work, laboratory activity and office-based work will need different kinds of clothing.
Travel within the working day is often necessary. Research projects, conferences and training may require overnight absence from home and/or overseas travel.

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Written by Linda Murdoch, University of Glasgow

Date:

September 2009