The UK's official graduate careers website

Login to My Prospects

Not a member yet? Join now
 
 

Water quality scientist : Salary and conditions

More in this section

  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
  3. Entry requirements
  4. Training
  5. Career development
  6. Employers and vacancy …
  7. Related jobs

Print all pages in this section

Case studies

  • Range of typical starting salaries: £17,000 - £22,000. Those who enter through graduate training schemes typically start on slightly higher salaries.
  • With some experience water scientists can progress to £25,000-32,000.
  • Range of typical salaries at senior level with chartered status and supervisory skills: £30,000 - £45,000.
  • Benefits may include: contributory pension scheme, company car/allowance/mileage and private healthcare scheme.
  • Salaries are mostly on fixed scales with progression based on experience. However, a system of salary progression related to achievement of individual targets and performance is becoming more common.
  • Working hours are nominally nine to five, but typically include regular extra hours. Most organisations use a provide 24-hour emergency cover so employees often work extra time on a rota basis. Overtime payments and a standby allowance may be available and time off in lieu is given for bank holiday working. Extra hours might be expected in response to a serious incident.
  • Work outdoors in all weathers is the norm for field-based staff but not for regulatory or laboratory-based scientists.
  • Self-employment/freelance work is not generally possible; unless and until sufficient experience and expertise are gained to make consultancy a possibility. Part-time work and career breaks are possible.
  • Women are now well represented in this area of work.
  • Jobs are available in all areas as water quality is monitored throughout the UK.
  • Dress code depends on whether you work outdoors or in a laboratory. The day-to-day schedule may be unpredictable and stressful due to the need to be responsive to incidents. Absence from home at night is uncommon as is overseas work or travel, except within consultancies.
  • Travel within a working day is frequent. Part of each day may be spent travelling to sites of concern or customers' or businesses' premises. Covering a large region may involve considerable daily travel.
 
AGCAS
Written by AGCAS editors
Date: 
September 2010
© Copyright AGCAS & Graduate Prospects Ltd | Disclaimer
 
 
 

This website is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with CSS enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets if you are able to do so.