Rural surveyor
Rural surveyors value the assets of farms and estates, advise clients on legal and tax issues, and plan and develop land use.
Salary Range: £20,000 to £45,000
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
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.