jobfacts

Estimator

Estimators, valuers and assessors — SOC 2020 3541

Estimators, valuers and assessors plan and undertake the calculation of probable costs of civil, mechanical, electrical, electronic and other projects, estimate the value of property and chattels, and investigate insurance claims to assess their validity and to assign liability.

Also calledCost engineerConstruction estimatorCost plannerDomestic energy assessorInsurance loss adjusterLoss adjusterand 88 more titles
Typical full-time pay£39,6002025 Provisional
People in the job57,000across the UK
Demand for workersCritical
New adverts a month3,400↑ 14%on last year · 50th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time estimators earn between £32,300 and £51,400 a year.

What full-time estimators earn, 2025
£39,600 typical£27,100lowest 10%£32,30025%£54,600top 20%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£32,300–£51,400)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£27,100
Lowest 20% earn less than£30,800
25%£32,300
Median£39,600
75%£51,400
Top 20% earn more than£54,600
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £39,600
South East!£44,600
North West!£42,200
Scotland!£41,700
East of England!£40,500
Yorkshire and The Humber!£39,600
East Midlands!£35,600
North East!£35,400
South West!£34,500
West Midlands!£33,500
Wales!£32,500
LondonNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £39,600
South East£44,600 (small sample)
North West£42,200 (small sample)
Scotland£41,700 (small sample)
East of England£40,500 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The Humber£39,600 (small sample)
East Midlands£35,600 (small sample)
North East£35,400 (small sample)
South West£34,500 (small sample)
West Midlands£33,500 (small sample)
Wales£32,500 (small sample)
LondonNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £34,300
  • 2024 £35,100
  • 2025 Provisional£39,600
↑ 16% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 3,400 jobs for estimators are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as critical.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (3 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20264,601
Jul 20264,155
Jun 20262,922
May 20263,027
Apr 20262,835
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20262,728
Jan 20263,500
Dec 20252,024
Nov 20253,761
Oct 20253,932
Sept 20253,790
Aug 20253,430
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 20253,700
Apr 20252,708
Mar 20253,119
Feb 20254,024
Jan 20252,875
Dec 20241,688
Nov 20242,574
Oct 20242,617
Sept 20242,955
Aug 20242,850
Jul 20243,265
Jun 20242,942
May 20243,490
Apr 20243,262
Mar 20243,006
Feb 20242,989
Jan 20243,574
Dec 20232,483
Nov 20232,927
Oct 20232,748
Sept 20232,612
Aug 20233,071
Jul 20233,248
Jun 20234,217
May 20233,860
Apr 20233,283
Mar 20233,921
Feb 20233,853
Jan 20234,213
Dec 20223,363
Nov 20224,283
Oct 20224,141
Sept 20223,986
Aug 20224,136
Jul 20224,123
Jun 20224,214
May 20224,735
Apr 20223,426
Mar 20224,059
Feb 20223,886
Jan 20224,489
Dec 20213,398
Nov 20213,674
Oct 20213,942
Sept 20214,222
Aug 20214,223
Jul 20215,276
Jun 20214,771
May 20215,433
Apr 20214,347
Mar 20215,315
Feb 20213,703
Jan 20213,760
Dec 20202,953
Nov 20203,266
Oct 20203,667
Sept 20203,247
Aug 20203,116
Jul 20202,663
Jun 20202,184
May 20201,613
Apr 20202,299
Mar 20204,100
Feb 20204,486
Jan 20204,154
Dec 20193,318
Nov 20194,231
Oct 20194,184
Sept 20193,766
Aug 20193,812
Jul 20194,261
Jun 20194,292
May 20194,266
Apr 20193,185
Mar 20193,554
Feb 20193,506
Jan 20194,109
Dec 20182,606
Nov 20183,477
Oct 20183,517
Sept 20183,319
Aug 20183,015
Jul 20182,931
Jun 20183,277
May 20183,326
Apr 20183,127
Mar 20183,623
Feb 20183,244
Jan 20183,961
Dec 20172,589
Nov 20173,341
Oct 20173,043
Sept 20173,291
Aug 20173,378
Jul 20173,064
Jun 20174,290
May 20173,907
Apr 20173,959
Mar 20174,343
Feb 20173,512
Jan 20174,511
Is there a shortage of estimators?
Critical

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was elevated.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsWell above usual
  • Wage growthWell above usual
  • Pay against similar jobsAbove usual
  • Hours workedUsual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
10%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for business associate professionals, which includes estimators. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London1,675
Birmingham306
Manchester292
Glasgow City214
Leeds207
Bristol, City of194
Nottingham112
Sheffield98
Liverpool95
Warrington91
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where estimators are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 16 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from India, United States, South Africa, ranking it 194th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of estimators
n/p
22%!
25%!
26%!
17%!
6.4%!
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–24Not published
25–3422% (small sample)
35–4425% (small sample)
45–5426% (small sample)
55–6417% (small sample)
65+6.4% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent40%
Higher education below degree!12%
A levels or equivalent32%
GCSEs or equivalent!14%
Other qualifications!2%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent40%
Higher education below degree12% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent32%
GCSEs or equivalent14% (small sample)
Other qualifications2% (small sample)

Main employers: non-life insurance (14%), construction of residential and non-residential buildings (12%), other professional, scientific and technical activities nec (8.1%), real estate agencies (6.1%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
40%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
4
from level 3
Apprenticeships take
1 to 3 years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds

Routes in

Estimator

You can get into this job through:

University

You could do a higher national diploma or degree before starting work. Relevant subjects include:

  • structural engineering
  • civil engineering
  • construction management
  • quantity surveying

Courses at this level include topics like:

  • contract tendering
  • estimating
  • buying
  • cost management
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • between 1 and 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma or degree

Apprenticeship

You could apply for an apprenticeship to become an estimator.

Options include:

  • Project Controls Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Project Controls Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
  • Construction Quantity Surveyor Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

These can take between 3 and 4 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Apply directly

You may be able to apply for an estimator position if you have qualifications and experience in related work, for example:

  • surveying
  • construction project management
  • civil engineering
  • structural engineering
  • procurement

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Controls and Skills Authority for professional development, to make new networking contacts and learn about industry news.

Further information

You can find more details about working as an estimator in construction and engineering from:

  • Go Construct
  • Tomorrow's Engineers

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for estimator. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Domestic energy assessor

You can get into this job through a specialist course run by private training organisations.

Other routes

To become a domestic energy assessor (DEA) you'll need to:

  • do a Level 3 Certificate in Domestic Energy Assessment
  • become a member of an approved accreditation scheme

If you have experience in a related field like property surveying or construction, you might not have to do as much training.

Once you've got the certificate and are registered on a scheme, your details will be available on the register of accredited domestic energy assessors.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for domestic energy assessor. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Insurance loss adjuster

You can get into this job through:

University

You can take a degree before applying for a place on an insurance company's graduate training scheme.

Useful subjects include:

  • business studies
  • finance
  • law
  • surveying
  • engineering
  • construction

It can help to get some relevant work experience whilst you're studying, for example through an internship or placement.

Your university careers service will be able to help you with this.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a loss adjusting firm or insurance company, such as:

  • Insurance Practitioner Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Insurance Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Senior Insurance Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

These take between 1 and 3 years to complete and combine workplace training and study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work your way up

You could move into loss adjusting after getting experience as a claims handler or assistant loss adjuster with an insurance company.

You could also complete qualifications while you're working in the insurance industry through a professional body like The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters.

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You could join The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters for professional development opportunities and to build up your contacts within the industry.

Further information

You can find out more about a career in loss adjusting through The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for insurance loss adjuster. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

4 for this job
Level 3About 1 year

Insurance practitioner

You gain
CILA Certificate in Insurance; CII Certificate in Insurance
Leads to
Professional membership of the Chartered Insurance Institute
Employers may ask for
Entry requirements are a matter for individual employers. However, by the gateway to end-point assessment, apprentices must have achieved either: 30 credits…
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
FinanceT Level3

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • examines plans, drawings, specifications, parts lists, etc. and specifies the materials and components required
  • assesses condition, location, desirability and amenities of property to be valued
  • assesses costs of materials, labour and other factors such as required profit margins, transport costs, tariffs and fare structures, possible hazards, etc.
  • prepares comprehensive estimates of time and costs and presents these in report or tender form
  • examines insurance documents to assess extent of liability and gathers information about incident from police, medical records, ship’s log, etc. and investigates potential fraudulent claims

Skills

  • obtain financial information
  • collect property financial information
  • analyse financial risk
  • compile appraisal reports
  • organise a damage assessment
  • provide information on properties
  • advise on property value
  • analyse claim files
  • assess customer credibility
  • classify insurance claims
  • compare property values
  • interview insurance claimants
  • manage claim files
  • manage claims process

Knowledge

  • insurance law
  • actuarial science
  • claims procedures
  • fraud detection
  • principles of insurance
  • property law
  • real estate market
  • risk management

Suits people who like

  • Organising and following procedures
  • Leading and persuading

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business and public service associate professionals, a group of 26 jobs that includes estimators.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 1.2%about 26,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

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