The American Dream or a QS reality check?
At GEDON™ we recruit for a range of consultancies and contractors across the Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe.
But one coutnry that is on top of everyone's agenda is the USA.
Over the past year, we’ve seen a sharp rise in demand for Cost Managers and Quantity Surveyors — and a growing number of professionals from the UK, Ireland, and Australia taking the leap.
I’ve also been catching up with many of those we’ve placed over the last few years to hear what life’s really like on the ground.
And while the USA is an incredible place, full of boundless opportunity, the truth is, the first few years can be tough.
Most people picture themselves walking through Manhattan in a suit and tie, channeling Harvey Specter from Suits.
In reality, you’re far more likely to be wearing dusty boots in the Midwest.
In Australian terms, think red dirt in Western Australia, not the harbour views of Sydney.
It’s still a land of opportunity, but one that requires grit, patience, and the willingness to grind before you truly find your place.
The Allure of the American Dream
The United States has always captured imaginations.
From the films we grew up watching, to the music, the sport, and even the politics — America has shaped the culture we live and breathe across the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Just last week, the NFL was playing in Dublin.
(My cousin had a pint with Bill Murray for goodness sake!)
But it’s a reminder of how deeply American culture has embedded itself globally.
So when a QS from London, Dublin, or Sydney is offered a six-figure salary, full healthcare, and a visa to work on world-class projects, it’s easy to see why the American dream is hard to ignore.
But while the offer may look glamorous, the experience on the ground is far more nuanced and often far tougher than expected.
The Reality of Working in the USA
Here’s the reality: the Cost Manager role in the US is still very much in its infancy.
I mean, it's not even hit puberty yet.
It's still in nappies.
While it’s growing fast, the concept of professional cost management remains largely unknown to most of the American construction industry.
If you tell someone you’re a “Quantity Surveyor” in the US, expect a blank stare.
"You're a what now?"
The profession doesn’t carry the same recognition it does in the UK, Europe, or (even) Australia. That creates both challenge and opportunity.
On one hand, you’ll need to constantly explain your value, even to clients.
The contractual authority, influence, and structure you’re used to might not exist.
But on the other hand, because the role is still emerging, career progression can happen at lightning speed.
It’s not uncommon to meet 30-year-old Vice Presidents or Presidents of consultancies in the USA, effectively the equivalent of a Director role in the UK.
That kind of acceleration is unheard of elsewhere.
So while the grind is real in those first few years, the payoff can be huge if you stick with it.
As one candidate told me:
“In London, I was advising clients. In Texas, I was explaining what a QS does — but once I proved myself, my career moved twice as fast.”
The Boom and the Burden: Life in Data Centres
Right now, data centres are driving much of the demand across the States.
Fuelled by AI, cloud computing, and streaming platforms, they’re being built everywhere and they need people.
Lots of people.
Consultancy busines's in the USA, have basically become large recruitment firms.
You get contracted out to a large tech company and will have limtied exposure to the business that actually pays you - other than staying on track and doing a good job.
The opportunity to offer commercial advisory services or to utilise your chartership can be challenging to find.
It becomes a game of proving your worth and playing the game of internal corporate politics.
But that demand for commercial nous and keeping project costs on track is why so many international QSs are heading to the US.
But here’s what many don’t realise: these projects are rarely in big cities.
They’re often in rural or industrial states — Iowa, Arizona, Kansas, Oregon, Kentucky — far from the bright lights of New York or LA.
They’re complex, high-value, and career-defining but they’re also remote, demanding, and often isolating.
Think of them as the modern-day mining projects: long hours, FIFO (fly-in fly-out - if you're lucky) or residential rosters, extreme weather, and limited social life.
The experience is incredible.
The lifestyle can be punishing.
One of our candidates summed it up perfectly:
“You’re learning faster than ever, but living slower than ever. It’s rewarding — but it’s lonely.”
We recently helped an English QS relocate from the Pacific Northwest to Brisbane after the isolation and climate became too much.
He told me,
“America pushed my career forward, but Australia gave me my life back.”
What We’re Hearing from the Market
There’s still plenty of upside.
We’ve placed candidates who’ve doubled their salary moving from the UK to the US and now manage global client portfolios.
One Senior Cost Manager who relocated from Edinburgh to New York told me,
“Once you’ve adapted to the system, the opportunities multiply fast. If you can stick it out for24 months, the big city doors open.”
That’s the pattern we’re seeing: those who thrive treat it as a long-term strategic play, not a short-term pay rise.
The Strategy That Works
For most QSs, the smartest approach is to view that first data centre role as your entry ticket to the US market.
Use it to learn, adapt, and build credibility.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll find it far easier to move into major city projects, New York, Chicago, Austin, or Miami.
It’s not glamorous at first.
But it’s a proven path.
Just make sure you understand your relocation terms — leaving early can mean repaying visa or travel costs.
The Bigger Picture
Working in the US can transform your career.
Each state feels like a different country - you have boundless opportuntiy.
It can fast-track your progression, open global opportunities, and give you exposure to some of the most exciting projects in the world.
But it’s not always the dream people imagine.
And it's important to realise that.
If you're lucky and you get an opportunity in one of the main centres, you have done very well.
But the reality is that, 99% of people will have to prove themselves.
And if you aren't ready to do that, then it might not be the position for you.
It’s truly a few years of grinding it out, finding your footing, and proving your value — THEN the rewards start to flow.
As I often tell candidates:
“Focus on where you get the greatest opportunity to learn - then the money, location and opportunities will follow”
That couldn't be any more true than ni the USA.
If you can embrace that mindset, America can be the making of you.
Written by: Mick Donaghy
Founder of GEDON™ Executive Recruitment, an International Search Firm for the Quantity Surveying Industry.
I write about Recruitment, Entrepreneurship, and Construction — and host The Take Off, the world’s leading Quantity Surveying podcast.
If you’re considering a move abroad — to the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, or the USA — visit www.gedonexecutive.com or reach out to our team today.
