CCCampCareer

Engineering Surveyor

Engineering, Manufacturing & Resources

Shortage Now

Shortage

States / territories with a shortage signal

NSWShortage
VICShortage
QLDShortage
WAShortage
SAShortage
TASShortage
NTShortage
ACTShortage

Why this shortage: Long training gap

Snapshot

Median salary

A$114,100

Full-time annual

People employed

9,700

Estimated workforce

Shortage signal

Shortage (national)

Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.

Visa pathways

CSOL listed (verify visa)

Verify on HomeAffairs

What you actually do

Inspects, evaluates, measures, sets-out and monitors infrastructure and construction works to ensure structures are built to plan.

Specialisations

Construction Surveyor
Read official OSCA description

Skills & main tasks

Official main tasks

  • Measures, sets-out and monitors construction projects, including high rise buildings, roads, tunnels, airports and other forms of infrastructure, to ensure they are built in accordance with design specifications
  • Performs surveys, fieldwork, calculations, data reduction and manipulation on construction sites using specialised software and technical equipment, such as theodolites, global positioning systems (GPS), lasers, and aerial and terrestrial scanners
  • Completes as-constructed survey reports and plans to confirm a construction project conforms to the intended design and specifications
  • Prepares data models for set-out and machine guidance to assist in planning, executing, monitoring and evaluating surveying work
  • Works with construction professionals, Architects, property owners, and Civil Engineers to provide accurate survey information for project planning and design phases

Where people work

State / territory distribution

NSW
30.6%
VIC
22.9%
QLD
20.7%
WA
16.8%
SA
5.1%
TAS
2.1%
ACT
1.1%
NT
0.7%

Highest education

Share of workers

Bachelor degree46.2%
Advanced diploma / diploma25.2%
Year 129.3%
Certificate III / IV7.6%
Postgraduate6.9%
Year 10 and below1.3%
Year 111.1%

Education & work pattern

Part-time

14%

Female rate

5%

Median age

39

2030 & 2035 employment outlook

to 2030

+10%

1,995 projected jobs

to 2035

+19%

3,640 projected jobs

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Credentials & Pathway

OSCA skill level 1

A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.

Registration or licensing

Registration or licensing may be required.

Official VET pathways

Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying

Progression pathway

Certificate III in Surveying and Spatial Information Services

Progression pathway

Certificate IV in Surveying and Spatial Information Services

Progression pathway

Diploma of Surveying

Progression pathway

Advanced Diploma of Surveying

Progression pathway

Certificate III in Civil Construction

Progression pathway

Certificate IV in Civil Construction

Progression pathway

Certificate IV in Civil Construction Design

Progression pathway

Real jobs right now

Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & more
See all job ads on SEEK

Current vacancy signal

QLD · May 2026

128

ACT · May 2026

6

VIC · May 2026

46

NT · May 2026

4

SA · May 2026

21

NSW · May 2026

94

Where could this career take you?

Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Engineering Surveyor.

Regional demand

Largest employment base

#1 Perth - South West

804 estimated employed

  1. 1

    Perth - South West

    804 employed

    WA

    +9.24%

    year on year

  2. 2

    Central West

    754 employed

    NSW

    0%

    year on year

  3. 3

    Gold Coast

    699 employed

    QLD

    -24.6%

    year on year

  4. 4

    Brisbane Inner City

    611 employed

    QLD

    -17.88%

    year on year

  5. 5

    Perth - North West

    601 employed

    WA

    -9.08%

    year on year

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Possible next career moves

Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.

2020–2021

Workers in this occupation

8,895

Moved in from another occupation

880

Moved to another occupation

530

Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.

  1. 1
    Quantity Surveyor

    25 observed moves

    Shortage +22035 +21% · +3CSOL listed

    5

    points

  2. 2
    Construction Project Manager

    10 observed moves

    Shortage +22035 +22% · +3CSOL listed

    5

    points

  3. 3
    Geospatial Technician

    25 observed moves

    Shortage +22035 +14% · +2CSOL listed

    4

    points

  4. 4
    Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)

    10 observed moves

    Shortage +22035 +18% · +2CSOL listed

    4

    points

Data status

Classification
OSCA 241232
Last updated
2026-01-23
Sources
Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2025 Shortage List + ABS EEH May 2025

Labour-market data coverage

  • Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
  • Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
  • Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
  • Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
  • Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
  • Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
  • Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.

Data confidence: verified.