Quantity Surveyor

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Quantity surveyors oversee construction projects, managing risks and controlling costs.

  • You could work in the public sector for a local authority, housing association or government department.
  • You could also work in the private sector for a building contractor, property company, civil engineering or architecture firm.

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

  • finding out a client’s needs and assessing if their plans are feasible;
  • working out quantities and costs of materials, time and labour for tenders;
  • negotiating contracts and work schedules;
  • advising on legal matters, including risks and disputes;
  • monitoring sub-contractors and stages of construction;
  • writing regular reports on costs and preparing accounts for payment;
  • keeping up to date with construction methods and materials ;
  • following health and safety and building regulations.
  • You’ll need a degree or professional qualification accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). This can be a quantity surveying degree or a postgraduate conversion course from any degree.  Useful subjects are construction, structural or civil engineering, mathematics, geography, economics or land studies.
  • You could also start work as a junior or trainee quantity surveyor, a surveying technician or surveying assistant, then study to become a quantity surveyor.
  • You could also get into this job with an apprenticeship.
  • You’ll need to be a member of RICS (MRICS) to become a fully qualified chartered surveyor. For this you’ll need to complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

You’ll need the following skills:

  • budgeting skills;
  • excellent IT and maths skills;
  • organisational and planning skills;
  • negotiation and leadership skills.

The following salaries are a guide only:

  • Starter: £18,000 to £25,000
  • Experienced: £25,000 to £50,000
  • Highly Experienced: £50,000 to £80,000 (senior)

Working Conditions

  • You’ll usually work Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm.  You may work evenings or weekends. Hours may be longer if you work on-site as a contractor.
  • You’ll spend time in an office and visiting building sites.
  • You’ll usually need a full driving licence.

Further Information

For further information click on the links below:

Next Steps

RICS

MRICS

Prospects

Careers in Construction