Conservation officer salary in England (regional cut)
The English regions split on London weighting, employer density and grade availability. ONS ASHE 2025 gives the headline median; NJC pay spine 2026/27 sets the local authority spine.
How English regions split
The English regions split on three axes: employer density (more NGO posts in the South-West and East Anglia, more local-authority planning conservation in the North-West and Yorkshire), London weighting (Inner £3,552, Outer £2,148 under NJC 2026/27), and grade availability (Defra ALB head offices concentrate Grade 7 and SEO posts in London and a few regional hubs).
Fixed-term ratio in England
The CJS 2026 vacancy sample (Jan-Apr, analysed by us) shows about 48 percent of English advertised conservation posts were fixed-term, in line with the wider sector. NHLF and EU-replacement-fund cycles drive most of the FTC concentration in the NW and SW.
NJC pay deal 2026/27
The NJC pay deal applicable to England and Wales for 2026/27 lifted SCP 23 to about £30,000 (from the 2025/26 settlement; LGA published schedule). Scottish counterparts are on the SJC spine; see the Scotland page for the differing position.