Construction and Property Career Guide

The Construction and Property Sector has an interesting mix of career opportunities. There are people focused roles, technical and on site roles, and opportunities with a mix of both. The industry often has openings for people with a variety of talents, whether you’ve got outstanding customer service and soft skills, or come from a highly specialised educational background. As a result, it can be a very interesting sector to work in, and one that is a pretty safe bet when it comes to career stability, demand, and longevity.

An illustration of engineers discussing work on a construction site.

Potential Roles in the Construction and Property Sector

Jobs in the Construction and Property Sector can range from highly technical roles like Architects and Civil Engineers, to more social and customer-focused jobs like Estate Agents and Site Managers. Here are three popular career choices for those looking to get into this sector, that should give you an idea of what to expect generally if you’re planning a career in either property or construction.

Estate Agents work with existing and potential property owners and buyers, working to secure agreements between all invested parties. Estate Agent jobs can focus on commercial and residential property. The nature of the role often means the majority of your time will be spent working with people from multiple disciplines within the industry, including solicitors, banks, mortgage providers, and other estate agents. In the US, estate agents are referred to as real estate agents and a license is mandatory to practice in most states in the US.

Construction Managers, also often called Site Managers, work on construction sites to overlook the building process and ensure that the operation is carried out safely, on time, and on budget. Working as a Construction Manager generally requires lots of collaboration with, and management of, everyone from building contractors and professionals to architects and surveyors. Construction Managers often liaise with suppliers, landowners, and local councils as well.

Building Surveyors are tasked with assessing and reporting on completed or existing buildings. It can be a very varied role, as Building Surveyor jobs are usually project-based. This can mean surveying a variety of property types ranging from Grade II listed historical buildings to cutting edge modern skyscrapers, and everything in between. You will often advise on the best measures to maintain and sustain the building over time through reports. In the US building surveys are often referred to as land surveyors.

Salary and Career Progression

Estate Agents don’t have especially high starting salaries in the UK. While it can depend on which company you work for (larger and nationwide agents are likely to offer better starting packages than smaller businesses, for example), entry-level salaries generally range from £17,000, up to £25,000 per year. With a few years’ experience under your belt as an Estate Agent, you can expect to earn anything between £25,000 and £50,000 or higher annually. Commissions, bonuses and profit-sharing can add to this base amount. Senior Estate Agents, and those in management positions, can earn up to £90,000 or more.

In the US, estate agents (referred to as real estate agents) can expect to start on a salary around $30,000 per year, however, commissions can significantly boost earnings, but this largely depends on the volume of sales achieved. Bonuses are less common for entry level positions. Once you have gained experience in this role your salary can be anything between $25,000 and $100,000 or more; however, consistent sales success is essential for achieving high commissions.

These salaries highlight the variability in earnings based on experience, location, and market conditions.

Construction Managers can enjoy quite high starting salaries in the UK, although this is generally because a decent amount of experience is needed for these roles. Starting salaries can be anywhere from £25,000 to £40,000, and sometimes even higher. An experienced Construction Manager can expect to take home at least £40,000 per year minimum. High level and chartered position salaries can reach as high as £75,000, and potentially even higher.

US construction managers can expect to start on a salary around $60,000 per year. Once you’ve gained experience construction managers can typically earn around $80,000 per year and those with extensive experience can earn upwards of $150,000 annually.

When it comes to a construction manager’s salary, several factors come into play: your experience, qualifications you bring to the table, the size and complexity of the projects you tackle, your location, and even the type of projects you specialise in.

Building Surveyors have moderately high starting salaries in the UK. Entry-level roles usually start around £22,000 per year. You can expect to start taking home at least £28,000 per year with a few years’ experience, with salaries averaging at around £50,000 for mid-level roles. Senior Building Surveyors can command salaries of £70,000 or above, especially at director level.

In the US building surveyors (often referred to as land surveyors) can expect to start on a salary around $40,000 per year. This salary can increase significantly based on experience, location and complexity of the projects handled. Building surveys can typically earn between $60,000 and $90,000 per year. This field offers a strong earning potential, with top earners reaching salaries exceeding $90,000 annually. Those with advanced qualifications and extensive experience are particularly well-positioned to achieve this level of compensation.

Qualifications, Education and Experience

Estate Agents can often find an entry-level role without needing a degree in the UK, however relevant qualifications can be advantageous. Many agents start through apprenticeships or on-site experience. In the US a real estate license is mandatory to practice in most states. A high school diploma or equivalent is required and while not mandatory, a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Experience in sales, customer service, or property management/real estate can be beneficial in both the UK and US.

Having qualifications in the following areas can be a valuable asset for aspiring estate agents/real estate agents:

UK & US

Property Development
Marketing
Business Administration
Urban and Land Studies
Estate Management
Real Estate (US)
National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) (UK)
Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) (UK)
National Association of Realtors (NAR) (US)
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) (US)
Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) (US)

Construction Managers, usually require a bachelor’s degree in the UK and US and some roles may also require a master’s degree for senior positions. Experience in project management or related fields is essential and many construction managers begin their careers as site supervisors, engineers, or project coordinators before advancing to management roles. Here’s a breakdown of the qualifications and certifications typically required for construction managers in the UK and US:

5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A*-C) (including English and Maths)
A Levels
BTECs or NVQs (Construction or related field and often accepted by employers and higher education institutions)
Apprenticeships
Bachelor’s Degree in related fields such as civil engineering, building surveying, construction science
Master’s Degree (Can enhance career prospects)
MCIOB (Member of the Chartered Institute of Building)
MRICS (Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)
Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Card

A high school diploma or GED
Associate Degree (Optional but Beneficial)
Bachelor’s Degree in related fields such as civil engineering, building surveying, construction science
Master’s Degree (Can enhance career prospects)
Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Associate Constructor (AC) and Certified Professional Constructor (CPC)
Contractor’s License (Required by some states)

Building Surveyors generally require a bachelor’s degree in both the UK and US although not always and it’s worth noting that getting an RCIS accredited qualification is highly beneficial in the UK. It can be extremely advantageous to have a combination of relevant educational qualifications, professional certifications or memberships, practical experience, and ongoing professional development. Here’s an overview of the qualifications and certifications typically required for building surveyors in both the UK and US:

GCSE (Maths, Science, Geography, Languages) (Not always required)
Bachelor’s Degree in building surveying, construction management, civil engineering, or a related field
A degree accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is particularly valuable.
Master’s Degree (Optional but can be beneficial for career progression and specialisation)
Chartered Membership (MRICS)
RICS APC (Assessment of Professional Competence)
RICS CPD (Continuing Professional Development)
Working under the supervision of a qualified surveyor for a set period (typically 2-3 years)

A high school diploma or GED
Associate’s Degree
Bachelor’s Degree in building surveying, construction management, civil engineering, or a related field
Master’s Degree (Optional but can be beneficial for career progression and specialisation)
Certified Building Inspector (CBI)
American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Certification
Licensed Professional Engineer (PE)
License (Required by some states)
Practical experience through internships, work placements, or entry-level positions in surveying, inspection, or construction management is crucial

Skills

Estate Agents will benefit from the following skills:

Software and IT literacy
Rapport and relationship building
Excellent written and verbal communication
Customer service
Marketing
Self-confidence
Negotiation
Target driven
Self-motivation
Determination

Construction Managers need a diverse skill set, including the following essentials:

Excellent written and verbal communication
Excellent numerical skills
Organisation
Planning
Health and Safety awareness
Problem-solving
Commercial awareness
Leadership
Able to make decisions under pressure
Teamwork

Working Hours

Estate Agents usually work around 40 hours per week. Standard office hours are the norm, although given the role often involves arranging property viewings and accompanying clients, out of hours work is also quite common. Working over evenings and weekends is often a part of the job as a result. It does also mean Estate Agents can put in over 40 hours per week in some cases.

Construction Managers also have a standard working week of around 40 hours. Again, however, given the nature of construction work and managing project deadlines, this can often change. In many cases, Construction Managers will be expected to work out of hours, over weekends, and potentially over public holidays to ensure projects run smoothly or are completed on schedule. Travelling between sites can also be a significant part of the role, which can also be time-consuming.

Building Surveyors will generally work during normal office hours, with most roles coming in at 40 hours per week. That said, given that meeting with clients is a fundamental part of the job, you may be required to attend social or networking events outside a normal day to day schedule. Additionally, while Building Surveyors do work quite standard hours, they are rarely located in an actual office. Most of the work requires being on-site, which can also mean travelling is fairly common.

Notable Locations

While career opportunities in the Construction and Property sector exist across both the UK and US, certain locations offer more prospects due to their high concentration of commercial and private properties, along with the presence of major businesses. Some key areas to consider include:

London
Manchester
Birmingham
Oxford
Leeds
Liverpool
Glasgow

New York City
Los Angeles
Chicago
San Francisco
Washington DC
Seattle

Many major regional towns and cities across the UK and US are worth considering, as most have ongoing or planned housing and commercial developments. While London remains a key hub for networking and earning potential in the UK, and cities like New York and Los Angeles play a similar role in the US, there are plenty of opportunities in most regions of both countries.

Notable Companies

Here are some strong contenders in the UK and US for careers in estate agency, construction management, and building surveying:

Estate Agents

Purple Bricks
Savills
Foxtons
Connells Group
Knight Frank

Keller Williams
RE/MAX
Compass
Coldwell Banker
eXp Realty

Construction Managers

Balfour Beatty
Laing O’Rourke
Kier Group
Sir Robert McAlpine
Wates Group

Turner Construction
MSkanska USA
AECOM
Bechtel
PCL Construction

Building Surveyors

RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)
Savills
JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
CBRE
Cushman & Wakefield
Colliers International
Gerald Eve

Stantec
Thornton Tomasetti
HOK
Arcadis
Cushman & Wakefield
CBRE USA
JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle USA)
Savills North America

This is not a comprehensive list, as many great companies exist in the industry. Larger firms often provide stability, while smaller companies may offer a more specialised focus.

Next Steps

While there are many roles in the Construction and Property Sector to consider, the above information can be used as a springboard for additional research if you’re looking for a career in a role that isn’t covered.

Before starting your job search, make sure to have a look through our Ultimate Jobseeker Guide to give yourself the best chance too. You can also register with JobLookup, and set up regular email alerts for new opportunities as they appear.