Job Specifications
What does a land surveyor do?
As a land surveyor, you will be responsible for carrying out the review of land using technical equipment to ensure it is suitable for a construction project to take place.
The job role of a land surveyor involves the following duties:
Carrying out surveys of the environment with construction projects in mind
Working in diverse sectors, such as construction, property, cartography (maps), offshore engineering and exploration
Assessing land due for redevelopment
Surveying airports, landfill sites, mines, quarries, pipeline systems and more
Managing and monitoring projects from start to finish
Producing maps using GPS, surveying instruments, digital images and satellite photographs
Analysing data using geographic information systems (GIS) and drawing charts using computer-aided design (CAD)
Monitoring changes in the land during the construction process
Writing reports and sharing crucial information with colleagues and clients
Working in an office, with regular site visits.
How to become a land surveyor
You can gain the qualifications you need by doing a university course, a graduate training scheme, or an apprenticeship.
You may need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card to work on a construction site.
University
You will need to complete a degree accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Graduate training scheme
If your first degree isn’t relevant to surveying, you could do a postgraduate conversion course at university, or through an employer.
You could also gain higher qualifications through an employer’s graduate training scheme. If you have a foundation degree or graduate diploma in surveying, you could get a graduate job as a surveying technician. You could then apply for RICS membership and study to be a fully qualified land surveyor.
Some people become surveyors by working for a surveying practice and completing a distance learning course with the University College of Estate Management.
Equivalent entry requirements explained
Find a university course
Funding advice
Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship with a land surveying company is a good way into the industry. Apprenticeships are open to anyone over the age of 16. As an apprentice, you will be fully employed by your company and expected to work a minimum of 30 hours a week. Your time will be split between on-the-job experience and a college or training provider.
You could start your career as a surveying technician or a geospatial survey technician.
Guide to apprenticeships
Work experience
Work experience is essential to gaining employment within the construction industry. You could gain this at school, or by working weekends and holidays with a company or relative who works in construction. Potential employers will always be pleased to see work experience listed on your CV.
Find out more about work experience
Skills
Additional skills which may benefit anyone considering a job as a land surveyor include:
Knowledge of engineering science, maths, geography, and technology
Analytical thinking skills
Be thorough and pay attention to detail
Able to use your initiative
Excellent verbal communication skills
Thinking and reasoning skills
Able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Qualifications
To become a land surveyor you will need to complete a degree accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Relevant subjects include surveying, civil engineering, geomatics or geographical information science.
To become a land surveyor you will need to complete a degree accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Relevant subjects include surveying, civil engineering, geomatics or geographical information science.
To become a land surveyor you will need to complete a degree accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Relevant subjects include surveying, civil engineering, geomatics or geographical information science.
How much could you earn as a land surveyor?
The expected salary for a land surveyor varies as you become more experienced.
Newly trained land surveyors can start at £30,000
Trained with experience land surveyors can earn up to £62,500*
Salaries depend on location, employer, level of responsibility, any overtime you may do, and whether you have completed an industry recognised training route.
Salaries have been collected from multiple industry sources
About the Company
Go Construct provides resources for anyone looking for a career in the construction and built environment sector. We showcase the many rewarding opportunities available and help people from all backgrounds to enter an exciting and growing industry which has a huge impact on the UK’s housing, industry and infrastructure.
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