How much do building surveyors earn in the UK?
As a Building surveyor, you'll provide professional advice on property and construction, ranging from multi-million-pound structures to modest adaptations and repairs.
You'll complete detailed reports, known as building surveys; you'll identify defects and advise on repair, maintenance and restoration options. Projects include existing buildings, buildings of architectural or historic importance and the development of new ones. You may implement preventative measures to keep buildings in good condition and look for ways to make buildings sustainable.
Responsibilities
As a building surveyor, you'll need to:
ensure projects are completed on budget and to schedule
advise clients on schemes and projects and determine requirements
prepare scheme designs with costings, programs for completion of projects and specification of works
organize documents for tender and advise on appointing contractors, designers and procurement routes
determine the condition of existing buildings, identify and analyze defects, including proposals for repair
advise on energy efficiency, environmental impact, and sustainable construction
instruct on the preservation/conservation of historic buildings
advise on the management and supervision of maintenance of buildings
deal with planning applications and advise on property legislation and building regulations
assess and design buildings to meet the needs of people with disabilities
instruct on construction design and management regulations
negotiate dilapidations (when there is a legal liability for a property's state of disrepair)
carry out feasibility studies
advise on the health and safety aspects of buildings
advise on boundary and 'right to light' disputes and party wall procedures
prepare insurance assessments and claims.
Salary
Graduate building surveyors can expect to earn around £22,000 to £26,000, although in London this may be higher.
With a few years' experiences, building surveyors earn in the region of £28,000 to £50,000. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the average salary is £44,000.
Chartered building surveyors usually earn 15% more than their non-chartered counterparts. At the senior level, they can earn up to £70,000. Partners and directors have the potential to reach six-figure salaries.
Salaries vary depending on location, with central London offering the highest.
Additional benefits often include a company car, mobile telephone, and a pension.
Income data from RICS. Figures are intended as a guide only.
Working hours
Working hours are generally nine to five, although you may be required to work longer hours. Meeting and socializing with clients can sometimes require out-of-hours working.
The work is much less desk-bound than some branches of surveying, with a large proportion of the working day spent on site. This may require working alone for significant periods of time.
What to expect
A reasonable level of fitness and mobility is required, as the job may involve working on scaffolding and in difficult spaces. However, physically disabled surveyors are found within the profession.
Jobs are available in most areas of the country, especially if you reach chartered status.
Self-employment/freelance work is common in private practice, specializing in building surveying, or working with other specialists such as architects and quantity surveyors. In the longer term, there may be opportunities to establish your own consultancy or become a partner or corporate director.
Local/regional travel within a working day is frequent. This may be to meet with contractors to discuss technical documents or to visit clients/members of the public who have no knowledge of construction. This means that good communication will be required at all times. Overnight absence from home is uncommon.
Overseas work or travel is occasional.
Qualifications
Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree in building surveying combined with technical knowledge will improve your chances.
Other subjects that may help to provide relevant knowledge include:
economics
geography
languages
mathematics
science
social sciences
urban and land studies.
Degrees are available in a range of property and construction-related subjects, accredited by RICS. Studying an RICS-accredited degree will qualify you to take the relevant training to become a chartered surveyor.
If your degree is in an unrelated topic or isn't accredited you can go on to take an RICS-accredited Masters degree, which will lead on to the chartered training. Some employers will support you through this postgraduate training while working and may be able to help with funding. For a full list of courses, see RICS Course.
HND entry is available at the surveying technician level. Technical property-related subjects, such as building surveying and building/construction, may improve your chances. The work of a surveying technician usually involves less complex tasks and comes with less responsibility. To reach the level of full surveyor you'll need to take further qualifications while working.
The Chartered Surveyors Training Trust provides opportunities for 16 to 24-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake tutor supported surveying apprenticeships.
See RICS - Apprenticeships for more information.
Skills
You will need to have:
technical knowledge and competence
a logical and practical mind
good oral and written communication skills
the ability to build lasting relationships with clients and colleagues
negotiation, presentation and report writing skills
the ability to analyse problems in order to identify solutions
commercial awareness and the ability to ensure that you are adding maximum value to clients' businesses
the ability to take on high levels of responsibility with enthusiasm and motivation
good IT skills, including computer-aided design (CAD)
a driving licence - usually essential, especially if you're going to be involved in a design role.
Work experience
Graduates who have completed a sandwich year in industry are at a considerable advantage and are better placed to enter the job market.
However, any relevant pre-entry experience is desirable and gaining experience in vacations or on placements can help you secure a permanent job.
Employers
Building surveying is required in a variety of real estate markets, including residential, commercial, leisure, agricultural and industrial.
As a chartered building surveyor, you could work in the private, corporate, public or voluntary sectors. Typical employers include:
specialised private practices, e.g. surveying firms, specialist property consultancies and construction companies
central government, e.g. valuation office
local government, e.g. local authorities
large property-owning organisations, such as housing associations, retailers and leisure groups
public-private organisations
loss adjusters.
Professional qualifications in surveying are recognised worldwide and with a range of international property and construction firms, there are opportunities to work abroad.
Many large, private practice firms have an annual intake of graduates and may have closing dates as early as December or January of your final year. Others will accept speculative applications slightly later - contact smaller employers from around Easter. Public sector organisations rarely accept speculative applications and usually advertise vacancies as they occur.
You could consider self-employment as an option, once you've gained enough experience.
Look for job vacancies at:
Building4jobs
Careers in Construction
EG Jobs
Property Week 4 Jobs
RICS Recruit
Recruitment consultants often handle vacancies in this area, including RICS-endorsed Macdonald and Company.
Building surveyor jobs
Graduate Surveyor
SQW Ltd
London
£24,501-£27,000
Source: Building surveyor
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