Average building surveyor salaries across Australia: state-by-state guide
Every home, school, hospital and high-rise in Australia needs someone to confirm it’s safe before people move in. That someone is a building surveyor – and right now, there aren’t enough of them to go around.
Here we dive into what you can expect from a career as a building surveyor. You’ll see how much building surveyors earn in every Australian state and territory, how your pay can grow as you gain experience, and why demand is so strong.
Building surveying: stats at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Average national salary | $125,000–$145,000 |
| In shortage? | Yes – national shortage |
| Highest-paying state | Queensland ($180,000 average) |
| Salary growth – construction jobs (past year) | +5.8% |
| Employment growth – construction industry (past year) | +1.6% |
| Employment growth – construction industry (past 5 years) | +19% |
| Projected employment growth to 2035 – architectural, building and surveying technicians | +14% |
| Sources: SEEK, SEEK Advertised Salary Index, September 2026, Occupation Shortage List 2026 (Jobs and Skills Australia), Construction industry profile (Jobs and Skills Australia), Employment Projections 2025–2035 (Jobs and Skills Australia) | |
How much do building surveyors earn in Australia?
Building surveyor salaries vary depending on where you work and how experienced you are. To give you a rough idea, we’ve compiled average salaries using SEEK data for every Australian state and territory.
How much are building surveyors paid in Queensland?
Building surveyors in Queensland earn between $170,000 and $190,000 a year on average – the highest range in the country.
In fact, SEEK’s 10 highest-paying regions for building surveyors are all in Queensland. The Sunshine Coast leads the way with an average salary of $190,000, followed by Brisbane at $187,500. Regional centres like Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton average $180,000.
In Queensland, the role is often advertised as “building certifier”, so search for both titles.
How much are building surveyors paid in Tasmania?
In Tasmania, building surveyors earn between $155,000 and $160,000 a year on average, making it the second-highest-paying state. In Hobart, the average range is between $145,000 and $165,000.
Tasmania has a small building surveying workforce – less than 2% of the national total – so employers are looking further afield. Recruiters on SEEK are currently advertising for building surveyors in Melbourne and Sydney who are willing to relocate to Tasmania.
How much are building surveyors paid in Victoria?
Building surveyors in Victoria earn between $130,000 and $150,000 a year on average. Melbourne-based roles sit in the same range.
Victoria is one of the biggest markets in the country, with around 30% of Australia’s building inspectors and surveyors working here. The state is aiming to build 800,000 homes over the next decade, so there’ll be no shortage of projects needing sign-off.
How much are building surveyors paid in the Northern Territory?
Building surveyors in the Northern Territory earn between $125,000 and $145,000 a year on average, right in line with the national average. Less than 1% of the national workforce is based in the territory, but pay holds up well against the bigger states.
How much are building surveyors paid in New South Wales?
In New South Wales, building surveyors earn between $110,000 and $130,000 a year on average. Location makes a big difference here. Building surveyors in Sydney earn between $130,000 and $150,000 on average, well above the state-wide range.
NSW has the biggest building surveying workforce in the country, with nearly a third of Australia’s building inspectors and surveyors based there. As in Queensland, many NSW roles are advertised as building certifier positions.
How much are building surveyors paid in Western Australia?
As a building surveyor in Western Australia, you can earn between $105,000 and $115,000 a year on average. Pay is consistent across the state, with Perth roles in the same range. Regional councils are hiring too, with senior building surveyor roles currently advertised in shires outside Perth.
How much are building surveyors paid in South Australia?
South Australian building surveyors earn between $95,000 and $105,000 a year on average. The state doesn’t offer the same highs as Queensland or Tasmania, but councils and private certifiers across Adelaide and regional SA are recruiting.
How much are building surveyors paid in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)?
Building surveyors in the ACT earn between $90,000 and $110,000 a year on average – the lowest range in the country. The ACT is a small market, with just 1.5% of Australia’s building inspectors and surveyors based there, so a handful of job ads can shift the average.
Australian building surveyor salaries by state & territory
| State/territory | Average building surveyor salary |
|---|---|
Queensland | $180,000 |
Tasmania | $155,000 |
Victoria | $139,000 |
Northern Territory | $134,910 |
New South Wales | $120,000 |
Western Australia | $106,590 |
South Australia | $103,020 |
ACT | $97,520 |
[source: SEEK data, October 2026]
Remember: SEEK figures are based on salary ranges that employers disclose in job ads. Some include super and some don’t. They’re a useful guide, but they won’t capture the full picture.
There’s also a big gap between what you earn when you’re starting out and what you can earn once you’re fully qualified and experienced. The career table further down shows how your salary can grow.
Where are the shortfalls in building surveying?
Employers across the country are struggling to fill building surveyor roles. Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2026 Occupation Shortage List rates building surveyors as being in national shortage.
Victoria’s building regulator, the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), describes the shortage as critical. It affects both local councils and the wider construction industry. The BPC points to three causes:
limited training opportunities
geographic challenges
heavy workloads for experienced surveyors, who have less time to mentor people new to the profession.
Councils are feeling it most. A 2023 survey of Victorian councils by Planned Resources and the Victorian Municipal Building Surveyors Group found 65 vacancies across the 42 councils that responded. On average, those roles had been open for more than a year. Around 42% of councils also had a municipal or deputy municipal building surveyor at retirement age.
That points to another trend: the workforce is ageing. Census data shows the median age of building inspectors and surveyors is 47, compared with 40 across all jobs, and nearly a third are 55 or older. As experienced surveyors retire, there’s a real opportunity for new graduates to step up.
Don’t forget about the extras!
Building surveying comes with some perks that don’t show up in an average salary.
You can earn while you learn – According to the AIBS, building surveyors are in such high demand that many students land jobs paying around $60,000 to $80,000 while they’re still studying. That experience also counts toward their accreditation.
You can work flexibly – Plenty of building surveyor roles on SEEK right now are advertised as work-from-home or remote.
You can be your own boss – The AIBS notes that building surveyors who run their own business can earn even more.
What’s driving demand for building surveyors in Australia?
Almost every building project in Australia needs a building surveyor, from homes and swimming pools to hospitals and city high-rises. Building and construction is Australia’s third-largest industry, so that adds up to a lot of projects.
Housing is a big driver. Under the National Housing Accord, all levels of government have agreed to a target of 1.2 million new, well-located homes over five years from 1 July 2024. Victoria’s Housing Statement also sets its own target of 800,000 homes over the next decade.
Before anyone can move into one of those homes, someone has to assess the plans, inspect the construction and issue an occupancy permit. That’s a building surveyor’s job, so the push for more housing is also a push for more building surveyors.
Salary growth over your building surveyor career
Your career ladder will look a bit different depending on where you’re registered and whether you work for a council, a private firm or government. A typical path looks like this:
starting out: many people work as a cadet, building inspector or assistant building surveyor while they study
registration: you step up to registered building surveyor once you’ve built up enough supervised experience
progression: from there, you can move into senior, principal or municipal building surveyor roles, or start your own practice.
This table shows how your earnings can grow as you progress:
| Career stage | Salary potential |
|---|---|
Student working while studying | $60,000–$80,000 |
Graduate building surveyor | From $80,000 |
Building surveyor (national average) | $125,000–$145,000 |
Fully qualified, highest level of practice | $150,000–$250,000 |
Running your own practice | $250,000+ |
Note: this table draws on figures from the AIBS, the Building and Plumbing Commission and SEEK (October 2026).
Where should I work as a building surveyor?
Location has a big impact on your salary. Queensland and Tasmania offer the highest averages right now, but it’s worth looking beyond the raw numbers to your overall quality of life. For example, would moving costs or time away from family and friends cancel out a higher salary interstate? A slightly lower salary closer to home could suit you better.
The type of employer matters too. According to the AIBS, you can work in:
private practice: certification, plan assessments and inspections for builders, developers and property owners, with plenty of variety
local government: assessing permits, inspecting work and enforcing standards, with job security and defined hours
state or federal government: shaping policy and building standards
teaching: sharing your expertise with the next generation of building surveyors.
Weigh salary against other benefits like flexible work, career progression and professional development.
What type of building surveyor should I be?
Building surveyors generally work in one of two areas, and many move between both throughout their careers:
statutory building surveyors: hold regulatory authority to approve building work, carry out inspections and enforce building standards
consulting building surveyors: give expert advice on design compliance, fire safety, access and code interpretation, without regulatory authority.
A building surveying qualification can also lead to specialist roles in:
fire safety engineering
access consulting
heritage consultancy
insurance assessment
dispute resolution and expert witness work.
Specialising in an area you’re passionate about can help you stand out and open up new career opportunities.
Beyond the salary
Building surveying isn’t just about the pay packet. Every day, you’ll protect public safety by making sure the homes, schools and hospitals in your community are safe, accessible and energy efficient.
It’s also a career that keeps you on your toes. Building codes and construction methods keep evolving, so you’ll keep learning no matter how long you’ve been in the job. And because building surveyors are needed in every city and region, your skills will be in demand wherever you go.
Ready to start your building surveying career?
VU is the only university in Victoria offering a Bachelor of Building Surveying. You can study it 100% online, with just nine scheduled hours of classes a week.
Want to know exactly what it takes to get qualified and registered? Read our guide on how to become a building surveyor.