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Building surveyor
Building surveyors advise clients about the design, construction, maintenance and repair of buildings.
Average salary (a year)
£25000
Starter
£70000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
38.0 to 40.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
between 8am and 6pm
away from home
How to become
Explore the different ways to get into this role
You can get into this job through:a university course; an apprenticeship; working towards this role; a graduate training scheme
University
You'll usually need a degree or professional qualification approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in a subject like:surveying, construction, civil engineering, building engineering
If you graduated in any other subject, you could do a surveying postgraduate conversion course. These usually lead to a master's degree or postgraduate diploma.
Entry requirements vary, so check with individual universities which degrees might be preferred.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
Apprenticeship
You could do a chartered surveyor degree apprenticeship.
It may be possible to work towards this role by doing a surveying technician apprenticeship. This will teach you some of the skills and knowledge required. You would then need to take further qualifications to gain chartered surveyor status.
RICS has more information on surveying apprenticeships.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work
If you have a relevant foundation degree or higher national diploma and are working, for example as a surveying technician, you may be able to get more qualifications on the job.
Other Routes
You could do a postgraduate surveying qualification through:a company graduate trainee scheme, distance learning with the University College of Estate Management
More Information
Registrations
you can register with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors to become a chartered surveyor through the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) scheme
Further Information
You can find out more about careers in surveying through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building.
What it takes
Find out what skills you’ll use in this role
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
    Knowledge of building and construction
    To be thorough and pay attention to detail
    The ability to use your initiative
    Analytical thinking skills
    Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
    Knowledge of public safety and security
    Thinking and reasoning skills
    Persistence and determination
Digital Skills Level
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
What you will do
Discover the day-to-day tasks you’ll do in this role
Day to day tasks
In your day-to-day duties you could
survey properties, identify structural faults and recommend repairs, assess damage for insurance purposes, establish who's responsible for building repair costs, advise clients on issues like property boundary disputes, act as an expert witness during legal proceedings, make sure properties meet building regulations, fire safety and accessibility standards, deal with planning applications and improvement or conservation grants
Working environment
You could work on a construction site, at a client's home or in an office.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Your working environment may be at height, outdoors in all weathers and you may spend nights away from home.
Career Path & Progression
Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities
With experience, you could move into project or senior management.
You could go into partnership in private practice or become self-employed as a consultant.
You could move into a related field, like building control.
Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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