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.