What is a Quantity Surveyor? And How Can You Become One?

There’s no getting around the fact that construction projects are large, expensive, and complex operations. In an environment like that, it’s important to have someone around who can keep things financially honest. Someone who can track every expense and every timesheet to ensure that the budget is held in check. That’s what a quantity surveyor is at its core.

As for how to become a quantity surveyor, that depends a lot on your skill set. Do you have a sharp head for numbers? Can you express yourself clearly and effectively in meetings and negotiations? Are you prepared to be the voice of cold, numerical facts?

What Does a Quantity Surveyor Do?

A quantity surveyor – often shortened to QS – manages the costs of a construction project. In practice, that means making early cost estimates, pricing materials and labour, preparing final documents, and negotiating with both contractors and suppliers. On top of all that, they have to track spend against budget to make sure the final numbers really do add up.

For the most part, the job is a combination of analytical desk work and site visits. There are also plenty of meetings with subcontractors, usually involving some sort of pay negotiation.

Not that a QS is all about the numbers. While data is at the heart of what they do, there is also a simple and practical component. A site visit usually just means checking up on the progress of work and confirming that targets are being met. If targets aren’t being met, then a QS can assess the impact and report back.

It’s not hard to see why QS is such an important role when you consider the sheer scale of most construction budgets. When a small delay can snowball into five-digit costs, effective planning is an absolute necessity.

How to Become a Quantity Surveyor

Although you don’t technically need one, if you want to become a quantity surveyor, doing a standard university degree is often the simplest path.

A BSc or MSc in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management will typically take 3-4 years. It’s a full-time course during which you’ll be introduced to a lot of the basic concepts, preparing you for entry-level roles. It’s worth noting, however, that you certainly won’t be learning the whole job.

As with many roles, nothing can quite prepare you for the practical on-the-job reality. Every company and every project is slightly different, and there are a lot of real-world factors that just can’t be taught in a university course.

With that in mind, some people prefer to do a degree apprenticeship. With a Level 6 Construction Quantity Surveyor degree apprenticeship, you can earn a full accreditation while also training on the job. This can last slightly longer than a standard degree (up to five years), but there are no tuition fees or student debt.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that you can work your way up without a degree at all by starting as an assistant or trainee quantity surveyor. It takes longer, and it’s not as common, but it is a real option for people looking to become a quantity surveyor without going to university first.

Is Being a Quantity Surveyor Worth It?

QS salaries start at around £29K, with senior Quantity Surveyors earning as much as £70K. Salaries definitely vary geographically, with the best pay concentrated around London and the South East, but no matter where you work, the pay tends to be moderate to good.

As for the work-life balance, Quantity Surveying is mostly a standard 9-5 until you hit the more senior end. While some do complain that the highest-paid roles are often not worth it because of the serious extra workload you’re expected to take on, the average QS is well compensated for working a varied and interesting job role.