Quantity Surveyor Jobs Part One | Experience, Qualifications and Career Path

In today’s construction landscape, understanding what drives a quantity surveyor’s salary is essential for professionals at every stage of their career. From junior-level roles to senior management positions, salaries for quantity surveyor jobs vary widely depending on a few key elements. Throughout our 3 part series, we examine the factors that shape a quantity surveyor’s salary. Whether you’re exploring careers in construction, planning a move abroad, or simply navigating your next career step. Knowing what shapes your earning potential can give you a clear advantage in the competitive world of construction industry jobs.

Experience

Obviously as experience grows, so does earning potential. A quantity surveyor with three to seven years in the industry will generally command a much higher salary, as they begin to take ownership of key responsibilities such as cost management, contract negotiation, and procurement. For senior professionals, particularly those managing large teams or complex infrastructure projects, salaries can climb substantially, especially in high-growth construction sectors or large-scale developments. For those considering a move overseas, many QS jobs abroad offer attractive compensation packages, particularly in regions like the Middle East, Australia, and Asia. These overseas QS jobs often reward international experience, specialist skills and the ability to manage diverse project environments.

Chartership

A major salary driver in quantity surveyor careers is Chartership. Gaining chartered status through organizations such as RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) or CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) is more than just a professional milestone. In most quantity surveyor recruitment markets, chartered professionals are seen as more valuable and lower risk, employers across construction industry sectors tend to offer higher salaries to chartered surveyors. Some roles even list chartership as a mandatory requirement, especially in senior-level or international positions. Chartership not only enhances your credibility but can also open doors to global mobility, better project opportunities, and leadership roles.

Employer Type

Salary variations depend heavily on the type of employer. In the world of construction recruitment, it’s common to see different compensation structures depending on whether the quantity surveyor is working for a consultancy, contractor, developer, or public sector organisation. Consultancy firms often offer structured progression pathways and wide exposure to multiple projects, while main contractors may pay a premium for site-based roles that come with higher pressure and tighter deadlines.

Developers might offer attractive bonuses linked to project success, whereas government or infrastructure roles may prioritize stability and long-term benefits over top-tier pay. Although freelance work often offers higher daily rates, it lacks job security and consistent workload.

Additionally, since employers typically don’t invest in training freelancers, over time, their CVs may well demonstrate less structured or broad experience compared to permanently employed quantity surveyors. These employer differences significantly shape the opportunities available in construction careers, especially when combined with location-specific demand. For professionals, it’s important to evaluate not just the salary offered but the nature and structure of the employer and the long term opportunities that lie behind it.

If you're looking to maximise your earnings as a quantity surveyor, your focus should be on building relevant experience, achieving chartership, and carefully selecting employers that align with your long-term career goals. In part two of this series we’ll explore how different sectors within the construction industry, along with the types of projects involved, can each have a significant impact on salary.

Steve Thomas
Construction Recruitment Director, UK & Canada
Maxim Recruitment
LinkedIn

Steve is responsible for Maxim Recruitment in the UK and Canada. He is based in the Maxim head office in Leicester, UK and the Toronto office in Canada. He regularly travels to meet employers and job seekers and attend construction industry networking events in the UK, Canada and worldwide. Steve has over 25 years of experience in construction and property recruitment and enjoys working with many repeat clients. He manages dedicated search and headhunting assignments for a range of premium UK, Canadian and international clients.