Quantity Surveyor

Description

Quantity surveyors (QS) manage the costings involved in construction projects from the pre-construction and design stages through to completion.

The key duties for a QS vary depending on the project being worked on, but typically include:

• Cost analysis
• Feasibility studies to estimate costs
• Preparing tender documents
• Procurement
• Preparing bills of quantities
• Compiling financial progress reports
• Undertaking site measures of work done
• Making applications for payment from the client or main contractor
• Allocating payments to sub-contractors
• Producing weekly or monthly CVRs (Cost Value Reconciliations)

A quantity surveyor may choose to specialise in a single sector, such as retail, residential or highways, or focus on a particular phase of projects.

Typical Rate

Salaries for quantity surveyors vary greatly, depending on their specialism and the location of the job. A recently-qualified QS or assistant QS can expect to earn between £22,000 and £32,000 in a permanent job, while experienced workers can be paid anywhere from £32,000 to £75,000.

The project-based nature of the construction industry means there are lots of opportunities for contracting. Typical day rates range from £200 to £350 in most of the country, but can be as high as £500 in London.

Required Qualifications

A qualification accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is needed to work as a QS.

The most common route into the profession is to study either a RICS-accredited degree course or to obtain an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, such as construction management or civil engineering, before studying a RICS or CIOB accredited postgraduate qualification.

It is possible to become a QS without an undergraduate degree, but an accredited qualification is required. Some people study part-time towards the qualifications while working in the construction industry.

Membership of RICS (which involves passing the body’s Assessment of Professional Competence) or the CIOB is not mandatory for quantity surveyors, but as employers view it as proof of skills and experience it does help to open up a greater range of career opportunities.

FAQs

• Do I need a CSCS card?

  Yes, you will need a valid CSCS card to work on site. Your education is likely to mean you are eligible for the Academically Qualified Person card.

• Do I need work experience?

  Many large construction companies recruit graduates with relevant degrees to train as quantity surveyors, but almost all contract and permanent QS jobs available via recruitment agencies are for experienced workers.

• What sort of organisations employ quantity surveyors?

  One of the things that makes this such an attractive choice of career is that a wide range of companies and public sector bodies have QS jobs available, giving you the opportunity to experience a variety of projects before deciding what to specialise in. In the private sector, main contractors, house builders, project management and cost management consultancies, and facilities management companies all need surveyors, while local councils and central government departments also employ them.

  Contract work through recruitment agencies is a realistic option for any QS with a few years experience, as many organisations staff up on a project by project basis and there is strong demand for good surveyors. A QS with a background in residential property may also find that there is plenty of freelance work available on small projects and self-builds.