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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)

£22,000 Starter

to

£43,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends attending events or appointments

How to become

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.

This kind of role is open to graduates of a wide range of subjects. Particularly relevant ones include:

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

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

Apprenticeship

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

You can find out more about surveying apprenticeships from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

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

Other Routes

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

Organisations like the National Trust recruit trainee rural surveyors.

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

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 computer operating systems, hardware and software
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • excellent written communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you’ll do

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day duties you could:

  • manage rural estates like farms and rural buildings
  • maintain accounts
  • produce financial forecasts
  • deal with grant, planning and subsidy applications
  • negotiate land access, with utility, mining or quarrying companies
  • value land and rural property
  • explore ideas for new uses of old buildings
  • survey property in the countryside for prospective buyers

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

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

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Quantity Surveyor

  • Wage: £163.13 - £307.88 Weekly
  • Location:

Apprentice Building Surveyor

  • Wage: £17,351.00 Annually
  • Location: Doncaster
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying

  • Provider: LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY
  • Start date: 01 September 2021
  • Location: Liverpool

T Level Construction - Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

  • Provider: BLACKPOOL AND THE FYLDE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2021
  • Location: Blackpool
Find courses near you

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