Quantity Surveyor salary in South Africa
See if Quantity Surveyor is worth pursuing in South Africa based on pay, demand, difficulty and time to start earning.
Should you become a Quantity Surveyor in South Africa?
Salary breakdown
How long to reach R85 000 per month?
Progression is relatively fast. The biggest jumps come from rare skills, larger employers and proven delivery.
Quantity Surveyor salary by city
Quantity Surveyor salary Durban
Durban roles usually track local employer budgets and sector demand.
See Quantity Surveyor salary in Durban →Quantity Surveyor salary Johannesburg
Johannesburg pay often reflects larger company hiring and specialist demand.
See Quantity Surveyor salary in Johannesburg →Quantity Surveyor salary Cape Town
Cape Town salaries can rise with scarce skills and competitive employers.
See Quantity Surveyor salary in Cape Town →Skills that increase salary
Scarce, in-demand skills lift offers fastest. Estimates assume strong, job-ready capability.
How Quantity Surveyor compares
Alternatives to consider
Is Quantity Surveyor worth it?
What does a Quantity Surveyor do?
Manages costs, budgets and contracts on construction projects. Most work involves Cost estimation, Contract management, Bills of quantities and close collaboration with engineering teams. Daily output is typically measured in delivery, accuracy and stakeholder impact rather than hours worked.
Good for
People who enjoy hard problems and want long-term income upside.
Avoid if
Anyone uncomfortable with ongoing skill upgrades and shifting tools.
Salary depth in South Africa
Industry variation
- • Construction - site-based, project payR50 600
- • Mining - remote sites, premium payR64 900
- • Private sector - stable, contract workR55 000
Experience curve
- • Year 0–2R25 000/mo
- • Year 3–5R48 500/mo
- • Year 6–10R85 000/mo
- • Year 10+R130 000/mo
Monthly vs hourly
- • Entry: R25 000/mo ≈ R145/hr
- • Mid: R55 000/mo ≈ R318/hr
- • Senior: R85 000/mo ≈ R491/hr
- Based on a 40-hour week (~173 hrs/month).
Real-world context
- • Most quantity surveyors in South Africa fall between R42 000 and R85 000 per month.
- • Top 20% reach R130 000+ in senior, specialist or leadership roles.
- • Pay scales fastest with scarce skills, engineering demand and proven delivery.
Quantity Surveyor - quick answers
Quantity Surveyor salary per month in South Africa
Quantity Surveyors in South Africa earn between R25 000 and R85 000 per month. Mid-level pay sits around R55 000/month, with top earners reaching R130 000+.
Quantity Surveyor hourly rate in South Africa
Quantity Surveyor hourly rate in South Africa is roughly R145/hr at entry, R318/hr at mid level and R491/hr at senior level (based on a ~173-hour month).
Entry-level quantity surveyor salary in SA
Entry-level quantity surveyor salary in South Africa starts around R25 000/month and reaches R42 000 within the first 1–2 years.
Is Quantity Surveyor a good career in South Africa?
Yes - Quantity Surveyor is a strong career in South Africa with medium demand and senior pay around R85 000/month.
Is Quantity Surveyor in demand in South Africa?
Quantity Surveyor sees steady demand in South Africa, with consistent hiring in engineering.
How long does it take to become a Quantity Surveyor?
Typically Construction cost management for entry-level roles. Education path: BSc Quantity Surveying + SACQSP.
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FAQ
What does a QS earn?+
Mid-level R55 000/month. Senior QSs and commercial managers earn R85 000-R130 000.
Explore Quantity Surveyor in South Africa
Drill into Quantity Surveyor salary by city, the most-asked comparisons and related career paths in engineering.