Building Surveyor
Also advertised as: Assistant Building Surveyor, Building Surveying Consultant, Building Surveyor, Chartered Building Surveyor, Property Surveyor
Inspects buildings to assess their condition, diagnose defects and oversee repair projects.
What the job involves
Building surveyors examine properties to identify structural problems, damp, or disrepair, and advise clients on repairs or refurbishment. You produce detailed survey reports, oversee building projects and often work towards RICS chartered status through the APC. It is a technical, site-based career combining construction knowledge with report writing.
Typical responsibilities
- Inspect buildings and diagnose defects
- Produce detailed condition survey reports
- Specify and oversee repair or refurbishment works
- Advise clients on building regulations compliance
- Manage contractors during building projects
Common employers
- Surveying practices
- Local authorities
- Housing associations
- Construction consultancies
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£26,000 – £32,000 a year
With experience
£42,000 – £60,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours, with site visits
Working environment
Office based with regular site inspections
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Building pathology
- Report writing
- Construction knowledge
- Project management
- Client communication
Transferable skills you may already have
- Construction trade experience
- Technical inspection or quality assurance work
- Report writing
Requirements employers ask for
- Building pathology
- Report writing
- Construction knowledge
- Project management
- Client communication
- Degree accredited by RICS, or degree apprenticeship route
Useful but not essential
- Construction trade experience
- Technical inspection or quality assurance work
- Report writing
- RICS APC chartership
- Membership of the Chartered Institute of Building
Helpful qualifications
- RICS APC chartership
- Membership of the Chartered Institute of Building
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Surveyor (Degree, Level 6)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Building surveying
- Related subject: Construction management
- Related subject: Architecture
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Building Surveyor
next
Associate Director
next
Chartered Building Surveyor
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Chartered status brings strong long-term earning potential
- Varied work between office reports and site visits
- High demand from ageing UK building stock
What people find hard
- Site inspections happen in all weather conditions
- APC chartership takes several years of structured study
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a building surveyor?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. required
- How much does a building surveyor earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £26,000 to £32,000 a year, rising towards £60,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Construction trade experience, Technical inspection or quality assurance work, Report writing.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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