Quantity Surveyor Salary UK

Quantity surveyor salaries in the UK range widely by career stage. A graduate or trainee QS typically earns £25,000–£30,000 (£30,000–£40,000 in London). An assistant QS with 1–3 years of experience earns £30,000–£40,000 UK-wide (£38,000–£45,000 in London). A chartered MRICS surveyor earns £42,000–£58,000 nationally and £55,000–£65,000 in London. A Senior QS earns £56,000–£75,000 nationally (£70,000–£90,000 London), and Associate Director and Director level roles pay £75,000–£130,000+. These figures are sourced from the Maxim Recruitment 2025/26 Salary Report and cross-referenced against Indeed UK.

The average salary for a chartered quantity surveyor (MRICS) in the UK is approximately £44,500–£56,000 per year, based on RICS salary benchmark data. In London, the equivalent figure is £55,000–£65,000. Maxim Recruitment's 2025/26 report shows that the MRICS designation commands a significant premium over non-chartered QS at the same experience level – typically £10,000–£20,000 more per year. The RICS APC route to MRICS requires a RICS-pathway aligned degree plus 24 months of supervised experience. The fastest and most affordable route to that degree is via the learndirect diploma + DMU Year 3 pathway, costing approximately £11,920 all-in. See the RICS APC pathway page for the full process.

A senior quantity surveyor in the UK typically earns £56,000–£75,000 per year outside London and £70,000–£90,000 in London. The Senior QS role typically requires at least 8–10 years of experience including MRICS chartered status, project ownership, and often team management responsibilities. Progressing from Assistant QS to Senior QS typically takes 5–8 years after chartership, depending on the employer and project volume.

Yes, quantity surveying is considered well-paid relative to many other construction professions, particularly when reaching chartered status. A chartered MRICS QS earns significantly more than a non-chartered site manager or quantity surveying technician. Compared to architects, chartered QS professionals often outearn at mid-to senior levels due to strong demand for cost management skills in large projects. Compared to structural engineers, the salaries are roughly equivalent at chartered level. The RICS Salary Survey 2024 confirms that chartered surveyors as a group remain among the highest-paid professionals in the construction and property sector. The most profitable path is consistently via RICS APC chartership, which requires the right qualification first.

Location has a major impact on quantity surveyor salary in the UK. London salaries are typically 16–25% higher than the UK national average across all levels. The South East (excluding London) and East of England also command above-average salaries due to proximity to London projects. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland generally pay 10–15% below the UK average. Within major urban centres like Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds, salaries are closer to the national average but can exceed it for senior and chartered roles. Remote or hybrid work has reduced the London premium slightly since 2022, but a substantial geographic differential remains.he £25,000–£30,000 a month for a new entrant, compared to a chartered QS earning £42,000–£58,000 per year.he £25,000–£35,000 range. At chartered level, comparisons diverge: a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in civil or structural engineering typically earns £45,000–£65,000, broadly similar to MRICS QS salaries. However, at senior commercial management level in construction – where experienced QS professionals manage large revenue streams and take on Commercial Director responsibilities – QS earnings often exceed those of equivalent-seniority engineers. Engineers who move into QS or commercial management roles (a route covered on the QS career change guide) often find that their technical background, combined with commercial training, enables accelerated progression to Senior QS or Commercial Manager level.