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Design & planning

Rural surveyor

Rural surveyors value farms and areas of land, plan how land is used and advise clients.

Annual Salary

£22,000 to £43,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

38 to 40 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends; attending events or appointments

2.4%
Future employment

There will be 2.4% more Rural surveyor jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

In this role you could:

  • survey and value areas of land like farms and rural buildings
  • advise clients on legal and tax issues
  • look after accounts, manage applications and produce financial forecasts
  • plan how land is used and negotiate access to land with other companies
  • find creative ways to repurpose old buildings

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.

You can get into this job through:

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

You'll usually need a degree or postgraduate qualification that is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or approved by the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

There's no specific degree subject you need to become a rural surveyor. However, some relevant subjects include:

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

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

Graduate training scheme

You could get a postgraduate qualification through a graduate trainee scheme. Find out how to get a place on a graduate scheme.

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
For more information
Apprenticeship

You could do a surveying degree apprenticeship.

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
For more information
Other routes

You could start as a trainee rural surveyor. You can find opportunities through organisations like the National Trust.

If you're already working for a surveying company, you could get a graduate diploma in surveying from the University College of Estate Management.

More information

Career tips

You might find it helpful to get some experience in farming or conservation before you apply for jobs. Find out some different ways to get work experience.

Professional and industry bodies

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

Further information

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

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With experience you could:specialise in a particular area of rural surveying like valuations; become a senior rural surveyor or a partner in a private practice; become a self-employed consultant

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

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
  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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