How Much Does a Construction Cost Estimator / Quantity Surveyor Earn in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia?

Construction Cost Estimators aka Quantity Surveyors work for a number of organizations in building, civil engineering, home renovations, refurbishments, interior design, quantity surveying, project management, construction management, cost estimating consultancy, property development, mining, steel fabrication, manufacturing, ship building, facility management, asset management and many others including the government, municipalities, building material suppliers, railways, oil rigs and real estate evaluators. Estimating jobs are also available in mechanical and electrical engineering.

Quantity Surveying is one of the highly paid professions in the construction industry all over the world. In a typical construction project, architects, engineers and quantity surveyors are authorized personnel who convene site meetings, progress meetings, issue instructions and approve payments. They lead the project management team, and hence they have authority over the contractor and site workers. These three professionals represent the interests of the client. Due to their project  and contract management responsibilities, including their respective fields of expertise, the quantity surveyor, architect and project engineer are the highest earning professionals in any construction project.

The following is the estimated salary of Quantity Surveyors and Construction Cost Estimators around the world:

Salary of Construction Estimators in the USA

Annual Salary According to Contract Type:

• All levels of experience – USD$50,000 to $90,000
• Full-time employees  – USD$50,000 to $90,000
• Contract employees – USD$55,000 to $90,000
• Part-time employees – USD$35,000 to $60,000
• Temporary employees – USD$40,000 to $80,000
• Interns – USD$30,000 to $55,000

Annual Salary According to Experience:

• Entry level – USD$40,000 to $80,000
• Mid Level – USD$50,000 to $85,000
• Senior Level – USD$70,000 to $95,000

Annual Salary According to Company:

• GPAC – USD$70,000 to $110,000
• Dorvin D Leis – USD$85,000
• Penhall Company – USD$70,000 to $75,000
• AECOM – USD$50,000 to $90,000
• TechUSA – USD$55,000 to $95,000
• Granite Construction – USD$75,000 to $90,000
• The Lane Construction Corporation – USD$70,000 to $95,000
• Amec Foster Wheeler – USD$60,000 to $90,000
• Turner Construction Company – USD$70,000 to $90,000
• Leland Saylor Associates – USD$90,000 to $120,000
• Trillium Construction – USD$45,000 to $75,000
• GH Phipps Construction Companies – USD$90,000 to $105,000
• Flatiron Construction Corp – USD$80,000 to $100,000

Top US Cities and Towns To Find Construction Estimator Jobs:

1. New York
2. Houston
3. Denver
4. Los Angeles
5. Phoenix
6. Dallas
7. Atlanta
8. Chicago
9. Charlotte
10. San Antonio
11. Austin
12. Raleigh
13. Orlando
14. Washington DC
15. Las Vegas

Salary of Quantity Surveyors in the UK

Annual Salary According to Contract Type:

• All levels of experience – GBP£30,000 to £60,000
• Full-time employees  – GBP£30,000 to £55,000
• Permanent employees – GBP£30,000 to £55,000
• Contract employees – GBP£40,000 to £85,000
• Part-time employees – GBP£20,000 to £40,000
• Temporary employees – GBP£35,000 to £80,000
• Apprenticeship  – GBP£15,000 to £30,000
• Internship – GBP£30,000

Annual Salary According to Job Title:

• Senior Quantity Surveyor – GBP£35,000 to £65,000
• Assistant Quantity Surveyor  – GBP£25,000 to £45,000
• Project Quantity Surveyor – GBP£35,000 to £60,000
• Intermediate Quantity Surveyor – GBP£35,000 to £55,000
• Graduate Quantity Surveyor – GBP£25,000 to £50,000
• Commercial Manager – GBP£25,000 to £55,000
• ME Quantity Surveyor – GBP£35,000 to £55,000
• Managing Quantity Surveyor – GBP£35,000 to £60,000
• Estimator – GBP£25,000 to £50,000
• Junior Quantity Surveyor – GBP£25,000 to £55,000
• Trainee Quantity Surveyor – GBP£20,000 to £45,000
• Quantity Surveyor Estimator – GBP£30,000 to £50,000
• Site Engineer – GBP£25,000 to £45,000

Top UK Cities and Towns To Find Quantity Surveying Jobs:

1. Somerset
2. London
3. Birmingham
4. Manchester
5. Bristol
6. Leeds
7. Glasgow
8. South West London
9. East London
10. Warrington
11. Nottingham
12. Reading
13. Edinburgh
14. City of Edinburgh

Salary of Construction Estimators in Canada

Annual Salary According to Contract Type:

• All levels of experience – CAD$50,000 to $130,000
• Full-time employees  – CAD$50,000 to $130,000
• Permanent employees – CAD$60,000 to $140,000
• Contract employees – CAD$60,000 to $80,000
• Part-time employees – CAD$80,000
• Temporary employees – CAD$40,000 to $60,000

Annual Salary According to Job Title:

• Estimator – CAD$40,000 to $120,000
• Senior Estimator – CAD$60,000 to $140,000
• Estimator Project Manager – CAD$50,000 to $130,000
• Project Manager Estimator – CAD$50,000 to $130,000
• Chief Estimator – CAD$70,000 to $150,000
• Electrical Estimator – CAD$60,000 to $140,000
• Junior Estimator – CAD$40,000 to $120,000
• Project Manager – CAD$40,000 to $120,000
• Estimator Project Coordinator – CAD$40,000 to $120,000
• Project Estimator – CAD$50,000 to $130,000
• Mechanical Estimator – CAD$50,000 to $130,000
• Construction Project Manager – CAD$50,000 to $130,000

Annual Salary According to Company:

• Graham Group – CAD$70,000 to $150,000
• Parker Huggett Construction Engineering – CAD$80,000 to $170,000
• AECOM – CAD$40,000 to $120,000
• Pomerleau Construction – CAD$70,000 to $130,000
• Ellisdon Industrial – CAD$50,000 to $130,000
• Graham Construction – CAD$40,000 to $130,000
• SNC Lavalin Infrastructure – CAD$60,000 to $200,000
• SPECS Property Loss Appraisal – CAD$30,000 to $110,000

Top Canadian Cities and Towns To Find Construction Estimator Jobs:

1. Toronto
2. Calgary
3. Edmonton
4. Vancouver
5. Mississauga
6. Ottawa
7. Montreal
8. Greater Toronto Area
9. Cambridge
10. Winnipeg
11. Saskatoon
12. Vaughn
13. Richmond
14. Surrey
15. Concord

Salary of Quantity Surveyors in Australia

Annual Salary According to Contract Type:

• All levels of experience – AUD$90,000 to $180,000
• Full-time employees  – AUD$80,000 to $160,000
• Permanent employees – AUS$100,000 to $140,000
• Contract employees – AUD$90,000 to $160,000
• Temporary employees – AUD$80,000 to $160,000

Top Australian  Cities and Towns To Find Quantity Surveying Jobs:

1. Sydney
2. Melbourne