Surveyor graduate jobs & schemes 2025

Surveying covers multiple specialisms, and graduate jobs are typically found in the following areas:

• Quantity Surveying – Managing construction costs, budgets, and contracts.
• Building Surveying – Assessing the condition of buildings, identifying defects, and ensuring compliance.
• Land & Geomatics Surveying – Measuring and mapping land for construction, environmental, and legal purposes.
• Commercial Property Surveying – Valuing, managing, and advising on commercial real estate investments.
• Residential Property Surveying – Conducting property valuations and surveys for homebuyers and developers.
• Planning & Development Surveying – Managing land use, urban development, and infrastructure projects.
• Rural Surveying – Working with agricultural, forestry, and estate management projects.

Most firms offer structured graduate schemes, often leading to professional accreditation.

A degree in quantity surveying, building surveying, real estate, or geography is ideal, but some firms accept graduates from related subjects like engineering, architecture, or environmental science. If your degree isn’t RICS-accredited, you may need to complete a conversion course.

The Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) is a structured training program required to become a chartered surveyor with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Many graduate schemes support trainees through the APC, which typically takes 2–3 years.

• Numerical & analytical skills – Important for cost estimation and valuation.
• Technical knowledge – Understanding construction, contracts, and land law.
• Attention to detail – Ensuring compliance with regulations and accuracy in surveying.
• Project management skills – Overseeing budgets, contracts, and timelines.
• Communication & negotiation – Dealing with clients, contractors, and legal professionals.
• IT & software skills – Experience with CAD, GIS, and surveying tools (AutoCAD, Revit, Trimble).

Salaries vary by specialism and location:

• Quantity Surveying: £28,000 – £35,000
• Building Surveying: £26,000 – £34,000
• Land & Geomatics Surveying: £24,000 – £32,000
• Commercial Property Surveying: £28,000 – £36,000
• Rural Surveying: £24,000 – £30,000

Salaries increase significantly after completing the RICS APC, with chartered surveyors earning £40,000 – £70,000+.

Surveying is less competitive than finance or law but still requires relevant experience. To stand out:
✔ Gain internships or placements in surveying or property roles.
✔ Get familiar with surveying software like AutoCAD, GIS, and Revit.
✔ Develop knowledge of property law and construction regulations.
✔ Work towards RICS accreditation or start an APC early.

• AutoCAD & Revit – For designing and assessing buildings.
• GIS & Mapping Software – Used in land surveying and planning.
• Cost Estimation & Budgeting – Essential for quantity surveying.
• Legal & Regulatory Knowledge – Understanding property laws and contracts.
• Drones & Laser Scanning (LiDAR) – Becoming more common in modern surveying.