UK vs Australia: What It’s Really Like Being a Quantity Surveyor Down Under

Every day, a QS from the UK reaches out to me inspired by the opportunity to live and work down under.

I've been there myself, built business's and developed a really strong network across the East & West Coast of Australia.

However the same question always comes up:

“What are the main differences between Quantity Surveying in Australia compared to the UK?”

It’s a fair question, both countries share RICS principles, similar project structures, and a global construction network. But day-to-day, the expectations, culture, and responsibilities can feel worlds apart.

This is what most UK QS's don't realise.

Recently, this exact topic blew up on Reddit — and the replies were gold.

Honest, unfiltered, and often hilarious.

Here’s a summary of what professionals on the ground said, combined with real data and industry insight from my work recruiting across both markets.

💼 1. The Role Itself: QS vs CA

In the UK, a Quantity Surveyor’s role is well-defined: full lifecycle cost control, procurement, valuations, reporting, and commercial leadership. The QS sits close to the centre of every project decision.

In Australia, the terminology shifts. On the contractor side, the equivalent position is often called a Contract Administrator (CA).

“A QS for a contractor is widely known as a CA here. CA’s rarely have the same level of control as a UK QS. There’s some overlap with the PM role, and often the CA ends up doing H&S and O&M work too.”

Contractor CAs often work under the Project Manager rather than alongside them, meaning less direct control over project finances or strategy. However, on the consultancy side, the role remains much closer to what UK QSs know — with one major difference:

👉 Consultancy QS work in Australia is far more heavily weighted towards cost planning and preconstruction.

Rather than traditional post-contract cost management or interim valuations, PQS roles are centred on feasibility, early-stage estimating, benchmarking, and cost planning through design. This reflects how Australian clients engage consultants earlier in the process, often before design documentation is complete.

It’s not uncommon for a PQS to be managing five to ten concurrent schemes at concept or schematic stage, producing elemental cost plans and detailed BOQ's

Fact: Based on our own research roughly 60–70% of consultancy QS work in Australia is precontract, compared to around 40% in the UK.

So if you’re moving across, more measurement, more modelling — and to spend much more time in Excel and CostX than on site.

⏰ 2. Work Hours and Expectations

A cultural wake-up call for most UK QSs: construction life in Australia starts early.

Typical site-based hours? 6:30am–3:30pm, sometimes longer.

As one commenter put it:

“They pay really well but expect their pound of flesh. Expect 7am–6pm and Saturday mornings.”

Another countered:

“I work from 6:45 to 3:30 most days. My PM’s a legend — as long as the work’s done, he doesn’t care when you leave.”

The truth lies lik everything, somwhere in between.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors run long days; consultancies and client-side roles offer more structure.

Fact: According to the thee Bureau of Statistics, 42% of Australian construction professionals work over 45 hours per week, compared to 27% in the UK.

The key difference? You’re up early, but you finish early — and with the climate, that balance often feels more natural.

Especially if you're in QLD, WA or SA where there are no daylight savings and it's dark at 5pm/6.30pm every day of the year.

💰 3. Pay and Cost of Living

Let’s tackle one of the biggest misconceptions head-on you won’t necessarily earn a lot more straight away.

There’s a widespread belief that moving to Australia means an instant jump in pay. But the honest reality? Salaries are broadly in line with the UK at first, and it’s only once you’ve built local experience, a network, and market understanding that the financial rewards really start to show.

For example:

A mid-level QS in the UK might earn £55k–£70k. The equivalent role in Australia could be around $110k–$130k AUD, which after exchange and tax adjustments, isn’t dramatically higher.

That gap begins to widen after two to three years, once you’ve learned local contract law, supplier networks, subcontractor behaviours, and pricing structures. Employers value QSs who can navigate Australia’s systems independently — that’s when you start seeing figures in the $140k–$180k AUD range (or higher, depending on sector).

As one Redditor put it:

“Pay is unreal — $120k AUD with 3 years’ experience, and I could get $140–160k if I moved elsewhere.”

So yes, the earning potential is excellent — but it’s earned, not given.

Recently I placed 2 x 3 year experienced QS's in Australia, salaries coming in at $115K + Super and $120K + Super. So this is the market for junior/intermediate level candidates.

The cost of living also evens things out initially. Rent, groceries, and utilities are higher in Sydney and Melbourne, but there’s no council tax, healthcare is cheaper, and petrol is around half the UK price.

Fact: According to Numbeo (Oct 2025), cost of living in Sydney is around 24% higher than London, but disposable income after tax is 20–25% greater once you’ve settled.

In short:

Don’t move expecting a 30% pay rise from day one. Focus on gaining Australian experience — that’s where the uplift comes. Once you’ve built local knowledge, your value climbs quickly. If you need sponsored, prioritise finding this.

🏗️ 4. Contracts, Claims, and Culture

If you think NEC3 is complex, Australia’s contract law will keep you on your toes.

Every state has its own Security of Payment Act, enforcing tight deadlines for payment claims and responses.

“You’ve got two weeks to respond, and your reasons for non-payment must be detailed to the letter.”

Miss that window, and the claim is automatically payable. It’s a far stricter, more legally driven environment.

Contracts often blend elements of AS (Australian Standard), bespoke clauses, and D&C structures. And legal teams are heavily involved sometimes to the frustration of project teams.

“Being pragmatic and good at building relationships will take you far. You’ll get frustrated by how things should be done, but you can’t fight it.”

Culturally, Australians are direct. They value blunt honesty and confidence. That means fewer sugar-coated meetings and a faster pace of decision-making but it can feel abrasive at first for new arrivals.

🌍 5. The Community and Industry Feel

One Redditor captured it well:

“There’s no community or friendly feeling in the industry here. Everyone thinks the PM is top dog.”

Compared to the UK, where the RICS network and consultancy community are strong, Australia’s industry can feel more fragmented particularly contractor-side. There’s less of a “QS club” culture, and events are more corporate and less social.

Apart from Estimators & Entertainment, the greatest QS and Estimating network ever (😉)

However, the consultancy network is slightly tighter.

If you're thinking RICS will take you to the next level? Think again - whilt Chartership is hot on the agenda of all QS's in the UK - it's less recognised in Australia who haven't fully adapted to the principles of Chartered QS's as of yet.

🕶️ 6. The Lifestyle Trade-Off

This is where Australia earns its reputation.

“Cost of living is higher, but you’re still better off. Weather’s mint. Don’t forget your factor 50.”

The early finish culture means more daylight, more outdoor time, and an entirely different pace of life. Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth in particular offer genuine balance — you’ll see colleagues heading to the gym, surf, or BBQ straight after work.

Whilst it's not 3pm finishes and beers on the beach - at all - you won't see many offices busy at 5pm and most companies and people working in the offices/sites engage with a healthy lifestyle - which is very important to the Australian lifestyle.

Fact: In a 2024 Chartered Institute of Building survey, 72% of UK construction professionals who moved to Australia cited “work-life balance” as their top reason for staying long-term.

So yes, you’ll work hard. But you’ll live harder.

💬 Final Thoughts

One Redditor summed it up best:

“It’s like driving in a different country — same goals, same principles, just a different way of getting there. Don’t fight it, go with the flow of traffic.”

The QS/CA profession in Australia is evolving fast. With billions in infrastructure, renewable energy, and data centre projects in the pipeline, demand for skilled professionals is only growing.

If you’re considering the move, understand this:

The title might change. The scope may shift toward preconstruction and cost planning. The culture may test your adaptability. But the lifestyle and opportunity are second to none.

🎧 Want to hear real stories from QSs who’ve done it?

Check out The Take Off – Quantity Surveying Podcast, where I speak with professionals who’ve made the leap between the UK and Australia. 🎙️ Listen on Spotify →

Written by Mick Donaghy,

Founder & Director of GEDON™ Executive

The Specialist Quantity Surveying Recruiter