1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Rural surveyor

Rural surveyor

Alternative titles for this job include Agricultural surveyor

Rural surveyors value the assets of farms and estates, advise clients on legal and tax issues, and plan and develop land use.

Average salary (a year)

£20,000 Starter

to

£45,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends attending events or appointments

How to become a rural surveyor

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • a graduate training scheme

University

You'll usually need a relevant degree or postgraduate qualification, accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Relevant subjects include:

  • geographic information science
  • rural estate and land management
  • land use and environmental management
  • rural business management

You can also take a degree or postgraduate course approved by the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

You may be able to do a postgraduate conversion course if your first degree is not related to surveying.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More information

Apprenticeship

You can qualify as a rural surveyor by doing a degree apprenticeship in surveying.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and college qualifications like A levels for a higher or a degree apprenticeship

More information

Other routes

You could get a postgraduate qualification through a graduate trainee scheme.

You could also get a graduate diploma in surveying by distance learning, with the University College of Estate Management, if you're working for a surveying practice.

More information

Career tips

Experience of working on the land, for example in farming or conservation, could give you an advantage when looking for work.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers for professional development training, industry news and networking opportunities.

Further information

You can get more advice about careers in surveying from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • maths knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • knowledge of geography
  • analytical thinking skills
  • customer service skills
  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties could include:

  • the day-to-day running of an estate
  • maintaining accounts
  • producing financial forecasts
  • dealing with grant and subsidy applications
  • negotiating land access, with utility, mining or quarrying companies

Working environment

You could work on a country estate or on a farm.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could specialise in a particular area of rural surveying, like valuations.

You could move into a senior management position, partnership in a private practice or self-employment as a consultant. 

Training opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship

  • Wage : £15,000.00 Annually
  • Location: London EC2N 1AR

Quantity Surveyor Apprentice – Level 6 (London, Berkshire or Birmingham)

  • Wage : Competitive salary
  • Location: Hampton TW12 2ES
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

CG DIPLOMA IN CONSTRUCTION SKILLS - LEVEL 1

  • Provider: EXETER COLLEGE
  • Start date: 10 September 2019
  • Location: EXETER

Level 7 NVQ Diploma in Construction Senior Management (Construction) (QCF)

  • Provider: CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT CENTRE LTD
  • Start date: 01 August 2019
  • Location:
Find courses near you

Related careers

Get help using this service

Call 0800 100 900

8am to 10pm, 7 days a week

More ways to contact us

Is this page useful?

Yes No