Quantity Surveyor Recruitment

Quantity Surveyors manage the commercial and financial aspects of construction projects, from initial cost planning through procurement, valuations, and final account. The role spans contractor, subcontractor, developer, and consultancy environments, making it one of the most versatile career paths in construction. RICS chartered status (MRICS) is the profession's primary qualification milestone and the single biggest salary inflection point in a QS career. We recruit Quantity Surveyors at every level, from graduate trainees preparing for APC to senior QS professionals stepping into commercial management.

What the role involves

Preparing cost plans, estimates, and tender pricing from first principles or using bills of quantities, applying appropriate contingency and risk allowances based on scheme complexity and ground conditions
Managing subcontract procurement and letting, including tendering packages, evaluating bids on both commercial and technical criteria, and negotiating final subcontract terms
Measuring and valuing work completed, agreeing variations, and submitting interim applications for payment, including supporting documentation to substantiate the value claimed
Preparing and negotiating final accounts, resolving commercial disputes where necessary
Producing monthly cost reports, cost value reconciliations (CVRs), and final cost forecasts for management review
Administering NEC or JCT contracts and identifying and managing contractual risk throughout the project

Who employers are looking for

An RICS-accredited degree in Quantity Surveying or Construction is the preferred academic route. Graduates typically enter the profession at assistant level and work toward MRICS through the APC process, which typically takes three to five years post-graduation. NEC and JCT contract knowledge is essential across all environments. Cost management software experience, including CostX, Bluebeam, or similar, is expected at mid-career level alongside advanced Excel for CVR preparation and commercial reporting.

MRICS chartership is the primary qualification employers look for when hiring senior QS professionals. It typically adds £8,000 - £15,000 to base salary and is the gateway to Commercial Manager and Head of Commercial roles. Infrastructure Quantity Surveyors working on AMP programmes, energy projects, or HS2 enabling works earn above building sector equivalents at comparable grades. Consultancy-side QS roles offer more structured APC support for pre-charter candidates but typically carry a slight salary discount versus contractor-side.

The distinction between contractor-side and consultancy-side QS experience is more significant than many candidates realise when changing environments. Contractors value subcontract procurement and CVR management as core competencies. Consultancies prioritise cost planning, employer's agent experience, and client-side reporting. At mid-career level, candidates with experience in both environments are the most commercially rounded and tend to attract the strongest offers. Employers at interview consistently ask for specific examples of final account negotiation, compensation event management, and instances where commercial intervention improved project outcome. The UK QS market remains structurally under-supplied at senior and chartered level, particularly in the North of England and Midlands, where demand from infrastructure frameworks continues to outpace supply.

Salary benchmarks

Graduate / entry-level £26,000 - £34,000

Mid-career (3 - 8 years) £38,000 - £58,000

Senior / management £58,000 - £80,000+

MRICS status is the primary salary inflection point, typically adding £8,000 - £15,000 to base pay immediately on chartership. Infrastructure QS professionals on AMP water, energy, and HS2 programmes earn above building sector equivalents. London adds 15 - 25%. Car allowance is standard for contractor-side roles.

Industries that hire Quantity Surveyors

Main contracting: commercial management of building contracts from procurement through to final account, where the QS manages subcontract packages, interim valuations, and monthly CVR reporting simultaneously
Subcontracting: managing own costs, valuations, and applications on package contracts across M&E, groundworks, and cladding, where the QS has direct commercial exposure and no upstream commercial support
Developer QS: cost management and financial oversight for residential and commercial developments
Consultancy: client-side cost management, project monitoring, and employer's agent services
Infrastructure: highways, rail, utilities, and energy cost management on framework and alliance contracts

Related roles

Commercial Manager: senior leadership role managing a team of Quantity Surveyors and overseeing the full commercial function
Estimator: pre-contract counterpart to the QS, focused on tender pricing and cost estimation
Construction Project Manager: delivery-focused counterpart who works alongside the QS on project management and programme
Contracts Manager: senior operational role with strong commercial responsibilities, often working closely with QS teams

Where we place Quantity Surveyor professionals

We place Quantity Surveyor professionals across the UK. Browse by location or register your CV for roles that match your experience.

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