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How to hire a quantity surveyor

Quantity surveyor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring quantity surveyors in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a quantity surveyor is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new quantity surveyor to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a quantity surveyor, step by step

To hire a quantity surveyor, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a quantity surveyor:

Here's a step-by-step quantity surveyor hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a quantity surveyor job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new quantity surveyor
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a quantity surveyor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A quantity surveyor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, quantity surveyors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    Here's a comparison of quantity surveyor salaries for various roles:

    Type of Quantity SurveyorDescriptionHourly rate
    Quantity SurveyorSurveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries. They provide data relevant to the shape and contour of the Earth’s surface for engineering, mapmaking, and construction projects. $21-54
    Party ChiefA party chief is a management position responsible for leading and guiding a program and providing leadership for its success. To fill this role, you will manage the program and provide overall technical expertise... Show more$14-31
    Survey Party ChiefSurvey party chiefs are individuals distinguished from an engineering technician class. The chiefs supervise land surveys, plan, and assess the proposed field survey projects... Show more$14-31
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Construction Projects
    • QS
    • Cost Estimates
    • Contractual Claims
    • Cost Analysis
    • Cost Control
    • Feasibility Studies
    • Cost Planning
    • Quantity Take-Offs
    • Cash Flow
    • Variation Orders
    • Autocad
    • Project Cost
    • Pre-Contract
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Prepare shop drawings using AutoCAD software.
    • Update contract BOQ base on contractors approve shop drawings to submit update BOQ and expect cost of completion.
    • Base: UK, UAE, Trinidad
    • Assist in the preparation of tenders for new contracts including pre-contract measurements and pricing.
    • Follow and maintain the drawing set using AutoCAD and release them to supervisors for assign tasks.
    • Check the quantities in BOQ during site handover for the contractor and match them with the implemented quantities at the site.
    More quantity surveyor duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your quantity surveyor job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A quantity surveyor salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a quantity surveyor in Wyoming may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level quantity surveyor usually earns less than a senior-level quantity surveyor. Additionally, a quantity surveyor with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average quantity surveyor salary

    $71,438yearly

    $34.35 hourly rate

    Entry-level quantity surveyor salary
    $44,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026

    Average quantity surveyor salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Connecticut$98,058$47
    2California$93,388$45
    3New York$92,628$45
    4Ohio$82,894$40
    5Illinois$77,812$37
    6Texas$70,058$34
    7Washington$68,767$33
    8Oregon$67,140$32
    9Florida$57,466$28
    10Arizona$54,895$26
    11Hawaii$53,216$26

    Average quantity surveyor salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Air Products$91,392$43.94
    2Turner & Townsend$88,660$42.63219
    3ORION$87,598$42.112
    4Fluor Corporation$84,658$40.70
    5Consultant$83,713$40.25
    6Faithful+Gould$82,051$39.45
    7Stanley Black & Decker$81,628$39.24
    8KBR$81,601$39.231
    9Cumming Corporation$80,097$38.511
    10CB&I Federal Services, LLC$80,024$38.47
    11*n/a*$79,470$38.21
    12AECOM$78,071$37.5310
    13BSI Engineering$77,100$37.07
    14Murray$74,794$35.96
    15Hitachi U.S.A.$60,187$28.94
  4. Writing a quantity surveyor job description

    A quantity surveyor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a quantity surveyor job description:

    Quantity surveyor job description example

    Title:
    Lead Quantity Surveyor

    This role will support Project Controls in the area of progress measurement at a KBR Construction jobsite in the Texas Gulf Coast region. The chosen candidate will work under the direction of a senior Project Controls person responsible for overall Construction progress measurement. Main responsibilities will be to provide field verification of installed quantities by construction crafts including Pipe, Mechanical, Instrumentation, and Electrical. Other responsibilities may include the following as requested:
    • Forecasts, controls, and reports project costs for projects.
    • Develops and provides project variances, trending and analysis of expenditures, monthly forecasts and reporting.
    • Reviews project costs incurred by category, calculates future costs based on labor productivity, material price increases, subcontract, wage rates and risk analysis. Participates in or leads change control process.
    • Ensures the development and completion of job progress milestones through scheduling.
    • Coordinates with procurement and material mangers as well as engineering work group leads pertaining to essential items of supply.
    • Provides priorities for projects to guarantee completion.
    • Contributes to forecasts and disbursements by performing schedule analysis.
    • Under general supervision, solves complex problems requiring detailed knowledge of field and industry best practices in project controls.
    • Uses experience and problem-solving skills to develop and improve processes. May provide guidance to less experienced team members.
    • Data management and database administration


    Skills required for this job are typically acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree and 2+ years of experience, or the equivalent years of experience.

    Preferred candidates will have 5+ years' experience in a quantity assessment role (estimating or related field) and previous experience doing field installed quantities evaluation.

    In compliance with the U.S. federal government's vaccine mandate, only candidates who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have a reasonable accommodation or approved medical exception will be considered for this position.

    KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
  5. Post your job

    To find the right quantity surveyor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with quantity surveyors they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit quantity surveyors who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your quantity surveyor job on Zippia to find and recruit quantity surveyor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit quantity surveyors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new quantity surveyor

    Once you've decided on a perfect quantity surveyor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new quantity surveyor. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a quantity surveyor?

There are different types of costs for hiring quantity surveyors. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new quantity surveyor employee.

You can expect to pay around $71,438 per year for a quantity surveyor, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for quantity surveyors in the US typically range between $21 and $54 an hour.

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