A Quantity Surveyor is a construction professional with knowledge in construction costs and contracts. The main role of a Quantity Surveyor is to figure out how much a construction project is going to cost.
The work of quantity surveyors is to manage the budget of a building project or constructions costs from concepts to completion. They keep projects on a budget and on time as well as shape the structure of a city, town and industries. Their primary objective is to enhance value for money by minimising project costs while maintaining the required quality and standards.
While roles vary from one company to another, the following are common duties that employees in this career tend to do:
Quantity surveyors who work for consultancies tend to be office-based and work typical office hours; those who are employed by contractors tend to be based in temporary offices on construction sites and go out on site often. They tend to work longer hours and may be required to work shifts.
Fresh graduates earn between KSH70,000 to KSH150,000. The salary rises steadily as one gains more experience. Architecture is among few professions in the country without salary caps – the pay can be in the north of KSH2M.
Quantity survey course has become one of the most sought after in Kenya thanks to the expanding real estate and construction business. The need to have iconic building and projects has made the demand for hiring quantity surveyors to increase. However, to stand out in this career and increase your chances of landing that lucrative job then you have to study in an accredited college or university.
Students who want to be successful in this career must have a passion for construction as well as commitment to quality and ethical standards. To get an opportunity to work in one of the prestigious quantity survey firms in Kenya, you must also have the following skills:
To pursue a career as a quantity surveyor, you will require to have passed in Mathematics, English and Physics with an average of C+ and above in KCSE so as to land a direct admission to the university. You will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying which takes four years. Once you are done with your undergraduate degree, you are expected to take an exam offered by the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS) where you will get a certificate.
