How to become a Building Surveyor

Also called: Building Certifier

Reviews, analyses and assesses building plans for compliance to current building standards, and issues relevant legislative permits, certification and approvals.

Main tasks

• Assesses and approves building permit applications to ensure compliance with building codes, local ordinances, zoning and contract specifications
• Undertakes, or directs Building Inspectors to undertake, critical stage inspections of buildings under construction to determine if the work complies with the development consent and legislative requirements
• Prepares a written record of building work inspected and documents details identifying non-compliant issues
• Enforces the requirements of building legislation by issuing written directions to fix non-compliant building work, providing building notices, and issuing or removing building orders
• Responds to enquiries or complaints from people affected by their decisions made when carrying out statutory functions
• Issues occupancy permits and certificates of final inspection upon the completion of building work if all requirements are met

Ways in

• University: Architecture & Built Environment degrees, Offered by 24 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying (CPC60121); Advanced Diploma of Surveying (CPP60121); Certificate III in Surveying and Spatial Information Services (CPP30221); Diploma of Surveying (CPP50121)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $118,560 a year
• About 84,200 people work in this job group now, and about 96,100 are projected by 2035. (+14.2%)
• Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Related jobs

• Quantity Surveyor
• Cartographer
• Architect
• Landscape Architect
• Urban Designer
• Engineering Surveyor

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Building Surveyor?

Ways in include: Architecture & Built Environment degrees; Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying; Advanced Diploma of Surveying.

How much does a Building Surveyor earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $118,560 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Building Surveyor a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 14% by 2035, from about 84,200 to about 96,100 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Building Surveyor?

Not always. 36% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Architecture & Built Environment degrees; Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying; Advanced Diploma of Surveying.

Will AI change the work of a Building Surveyor?

Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04