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, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

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 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

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
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

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. 

Current opportunities

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