Quantity Surveyor Salary UK (2026)
The UK median Quantity Surveyor salary is £52,000 per year. Entry-level: £34,000 · Senior: £85,000. Also known as: Senior QS, Commercial Manager, Cost Consultant.
UK-wide salary distribution
Quantity Surveyor hiring market in the UK
Demand for Quantity Surveyors in the UK has been steady — neither contracting nor expanding sharply — with employer hiring tracking broadly in line with replacement need. The highest-paying UK city on this site for the role is London at £66,560 median, which is roughly what a competent mid-level practitioner can expect to earn there with three to five years of experience.
Pay progression for a Quantity Surveyor in the UK is rarely linear. Most of the gain happens at three points: the move from entry-level to mid (typically in years 2–3), the move into senior or principal positions (years 6–8), and — for those who pursue it — a lateral jump into management, consulting or independent contracting. Sitting in the same role waiting for inflationary increases is by some distance the slowest path; changing employer every three to four years remains the dominant pay-rise mechanism in the UK labour market.
Quantity Surveyor salary by UK city
| City | Lower quartile | Median | Upper quartile | vs UK avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £51,200 | £66,560 | £87,040 | +28% |
| Cambridge | £46,000 | £59,800 | £78,200 | +15% |
| Oxford | £45,200 | £58,760 | £76,840 | +13% |
| Reading | £44,800 | £58,240 | £76,160 | +12% |
| Edinburgh | £43,200 | £56,160 | £73,440 | +8% |
| Bristol | £42,400 | £55,120 | £72,080 | +6% |
| Brighton | £42,000 | £54,600 | £71,400 | +5% |
| Milton Keynes | £42,000 | £54,600 | £71,400 | +5% |
| Aberdeen | £41,600 | £54,080 | £70,720 | +4% |
| Southampton | £41,600 | £54,080 | £70,720 | +4% |
| Manchester | £40,800 | £53,040 | £69,360 | +2% |
| Leeds | £40,000 | £52,000 | £68,000 | +0% |
| Birmingham | £39,200 | £50,960 | £66,640 | -2% |
| Glasgow | £38,800 | £50,440 | £65,960 | -3% |
| Cardiff | £38,000 | £49,400 | £64,600 | -5% |
| Nottingham | £37,600 | £48,880 | £63,920 | -6% |
| Liverpool | £37,200 | £48,360 | £63,240 | -7% |
| Sheffield | £37,200 | £48,360 | £63,240 | -7% |
| Newcastle | £36,800 | £47,840 | £62,560 | -8% |
| Belfast | £36,000 | £46,800 | £61,200 | -10% |
Take-home pay calculator · 2024/25
Quantity Surveyor
£39,088/yr · £752/wk · effective rate 24.8%
| Gross salary | £52,000 |
| Pension (5%) | −£2,600 |
| Income tax | −£7,366 |
| National Insurance | −£2,946 |
| Net take-home | £39,088 |
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Core skills for Quantity Surveyors
- RICS
- NEC contracts
- JCT contracts
- Cost planning
- Valuation
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Quantity Surveyor salary in the UK?
The average UK Quantity Surveyor salary is £52,000 per year (ONS 2025). The lower quartile is £40,000 and the upper quartile is £68,000.
Where do Quantity Surveyors earn the most in the UK?
Quantity Surveyors earn most in London (£66,560 median), followed by Cambridge (£59,800) and Oxford (£58,760). See the full city table above.
What qualifications does a Quantity Surveyor need?
Core skills and qualifications for Quantity Surveyors include: RICS, NEC contracts, JCT contracts, Cost planning, Valuation. Entry-level roles start at around £34,000; senior positions reach £85,000+.
Is Quantity Surveyor a good career in the UK?
The career outlook for Quantity Surveyors is medium. Salaries have grown broadly in line with wage inflation, with experienced professionals in high-cost cities (London, Cambridge, Oxford) earning 15–30% above the UK median.