Facts and Figures

• Starting salary:

  Salaries vary greatly depending on employer and responsibilities. Starting salaries are between £16,000 and £26,000, but charitable organisations offer less.

• Senior level salary:

  Managers can earn up to £35,000.

• Education:

  There are no minimum entry requirements, but many conservation officers have degrees. For buildings conservation, appropriate courses include planning, building and construction, civil or structural engineering and surveying. For countryside conservation, courses include landscape architecture or design, countryside or environmental management, conservation and environment, environmental sciences, ecology and geography. A postgraduate qualification is becoming increasingly common, though not necessary.

• Skills:

  You'll need a wide range of skills, including an understanding of planning, historic buildings, relevant policies and law.

• Likely employer type:

  Local authorities, private sector consultants, lottery-funded schemes, government agencies or charitable organisations.

• Opportunities:

  Jobs are only available in some areas, and there is strong competition for posts - you will need good qualifications and experience. However, it is a growing profession, with 5,000 officer posts. Most local authority planning departments employ historic buildings officers or conservation officers. Positions are regularly advertised in publications such as The Guardian and the weekly trade magazine, Planning.