Quantity Surveyor
Manage costs, contracts, and budgets on construction projects.
This UK quantity surveyor career guide covers what the role involves day to day, typical salary at each stage, the usual entry route, the skills employers expect, and related careers worth comparing.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £26,000 - £35,000
- Mid-career salary
- £42,000 - £65,000
- Senior salary
- £70,000 - £110,000
- Work environment
- Office + site visits
- Time to entry
- 3 - 5 Years (degree + chartership)
- Degree required
- Yes (or apprenticeship route)
- Category
- Engineering, Construction and Infrastructure
What a Quantity Surveyor does
Manage costs, contracts, and budgets on construction projects.
How to become a Quantity Surveyor
- Look up Quantity Surveyor roles on LinkedIn or Indeed and read 5 real job ads
- Talk to someone already working as a Quantity Surveyor - even a 15-minute call helps
- Find one beginner course or qualification used by people in this role
- Build one small piece of evidence you've explored this (project, shadowing, short course)
- Apply to one entry-level role or related opportunity within the next month
Key skills
- Numerical analysis
- Contracts
- Negotiation
- Attention to detail