Quantity surveyor salary and the Australian full-time average
If you are looking for a single, official salary figure for quantity surveyors in Australia, the short answer is that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish one. The occupation is classified at the six-digit level (ANZSCO 233213), and the ABS suppresses median weekly earnings for such detailed groups to maintain statistical reliability. Jobs and Skills Australia, which draws on ABS data, also lists median weekly earnings as 'N/A' for quantity surveyors. This means any precise number you see online is likely an estimate from private salary surveys or recruitment sites, not an official government statistic.
What we do know about quantity surveyors
According to the Jobs and Skills Australia profile (based on the 2021 Census and ABS surveys), there are about 3,500 quantity surveyors employed in Australia. The workforce is 25% female, and the median age is 37 years. A very high 87% work full-time, and those full-time workers average 43 hours per week – slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours. This profile suggests a relatively experienced, mostly male occupation with strong full-time engagement.
Comparing to the national full-time average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings report for May 2026 gives the national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings as $2,083.70. Multiplied by 52, that is about $108,352 a year. This is the figure that this site uses as its line. For context, the full-time median (from ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100.
Quantity surveyors are classified as Professionals. The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) reports that all Professionals earn average weekly total cash earnings of $2,049.60 – about $106,579 a year. This is slightly below the national full-time average but above the full-time median. However, this is an average for all professionals (including managers, lawyers, engineers, etc.) and may not reflect quantity surveyor pay directly.
Given that quantity surveyors work in construction – an industry where average hourly total cash earnings are $49.00 (ABS Employee Earnings, May 2025) – and that they typically work full-time, it is reasonable to expect their earnings to be in the range of the national full-time average or higher. But without a published median, we cannot be certain.
State and territory variations
The national full-time average masks significant differences across Australia. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, provides state and territory full-time adult ordinary time earnings (annualised):
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 per week ($109,658 a year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 ($106,137)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 ($106,064)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 ($102,450)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 ($115,825)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 ($96,008)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 ($103,173)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 ($119,090)
Quantity surveyors in Western Australia or the ACT may earn more than those in Tasmania or South Australia, reflecting broader labour market conditions. You can explore state-level comparisons on our states and territories page.
How quantity surveyor pay is set
Most quantity surveyors are employed under individual arrangements or collective agreements. The ABS reports that 38.5% of all employees have their pay set by individual arrangement, and 34.6% by collective agreement. Award coverage is less common for professionals. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, $52,255 a year on 38 hours), but quantity surveyors would earn well above this. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date, but again, most quantity surveyors are above award.
Using medians and averages
It is important to distinguish between averages and medians. The national full-time average ($2,083.70 per week) is pulled up by high earners. The full-time median ($1,740 per week, about $90,532 a year) is the midpoint. For quantity surveyors, without a published median, we can look at the broader Professional category: the median weekly earnings for full-time non-managerial professionals is not separately published, but the all-employees median for Professionals (including part-time) would be lower. The ABS Employee Earnings table shows that for all employees, the median weekly earnings are $1,436.00, but that includes part-time workers.
For a more detailed breakdown of how salaries are calculated across occupations, see our job medians page.
Conclusion
While the ABS does not provide a specific salary figure for quantity surveyors, the available data suggests they are likely to earn around or above the national full-time average of $108,352 a year, given their professional status, high full-time rate, and above-average hours. For the most reliable estimate, you would need to consult industry-specific surveys or recruitment data. The official statistics simply do not go to that level of detail.
For more on how the ABS and other bodies set these figures, visit How the figures are set.