Senior Quantity Surveyor

Senior Quantity Surveyor
By Angela G. M.

A senior quantity surveyor is a professional who ideals with construction projects and costs. The senior quantity surveyor estimates the cost for product manufacturing, construction projects or services. Some senior quantity surveyors specialize in specific products or services.

Different Levels and Positions

There are several different levels of quantity surveyors. At the bottom of the ladder is the entry level. Above that is the junior executive level. Next up the ladder is the senior executive level. The top level on the ladder is the manager. There are also specialists at each level who focus on just one or product.

How to Move Up from One Level to Another

A senior quantity surveyor is a very competitive field. Employers look for the best candidates. Advancement comes with education. experience, hard work, good reputation and opportunity. A senior quantity surveyor needs a strong construction/mechanical background along with excellent math skills, good communications skills, and proficiency in computer use and certain software programs.

Job Description

A senior surveyor is responsible for many tasks. Among these is managing expenses on building projects such as schools, hospitals, factories, bridges, residential complexes, and office building. A senior quantity surveyor determines what maintenance and repair of such projects would cost and does feasibility studies. The senior quantity survey can also advise a client about contracts and can let out bids and subcontract work.

Basically the senior surveyor is responsible for managing all costs related to building projects from the initial calculations of the project to the final figures. The goal of the senior quantity surveyor is to minimize expenses and get more for the money. The senior quantity surveyor is responsible for compliance with health and safety regulations in accordance with OSHA and local and state standards. The surveyor generally works for a client or contractor. The job involves both office and onsite work

Training

Certification is optional but highly recommended. Many surveyors have bachelor degrees in civil engineering. Masters degrees in construction management are also offered and there are several online programs. Coursework covers topics like construction management, construction law, site planning and structure, economic planning, estimation and bidding strategies, information systems, bidding and procurement, risk analysis in construction, international construction and information systems.

The American Society of Professional Estimators offers a certified professional estimator certification to workers with five years experiences. Continuing education classes are offered. These can be completed on site or online. The purpose of professional development is to raise professional standards and also to provide training in specialty areas such as cost engineering estimation, cost control planning, quantity surveying, and construction cost management.

Salary

The salaries of a senior surveyor vary greatly. The field is very competitive. The average salary range goes from $33,000 to over $94,000 but there are bonuses that can enhance the base salary. The bonuses can range anywhere from $1000 to $5000 or even more. In addition to monetary benefits, most positions have other benefits. Eighty percent have medical benefits. Fifty percent have dental benefits. Thirty percent have vision benefits. Twenty percent of the positions in the field have no benefits.

Salary varies according to level and years of experience. About seventy-one percent of those working in this field have less than four years of experience. Ten percent have five to nine years of experience and only fourteen percent have twenty or more years of experience. An entry level position might pay only $2000 per month while a junior executive might make $2700 per month, a senior executive $4500 per month and a senior quantity surveyor manager could easily make $5800 per month.

Other names include construction cost consultant and commercial manager, cost estimator. Being a senior quantity surveyor means doing exciting work in growing field.

To learn more about commercial and property surveys, be sure to visit the Quantity Surveyors website for all your quantity surveying needs.

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