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Quantity Surveyor

Stable

Engineering

Manages construction costs, tenders and contracts. A core, steady-demand role on every building project; Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) membership and chartered status (MRICS) boost pay.

Architecture & Built EnvironmentAccountingGeneral

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
  2. 2Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
  3. 3Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
  4. 4Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
  5. 5Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
  6. 6Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
  7. 7Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
  8. 8Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.
  9. 9Set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures.
  10. 10Review material and labor requirements to decide whether it is more cost-effective to produce or purchase components.
  11. 11Prepare cost and expenditure statements and other necessary documentation at regular intervals for the duration of the project.
  12. 12Conduct special studies to develop and establish standard hour and related cost data or to reduce cost.
  13. 13Visit site and record information about access, drainage and topography, and availability of utility services.
  14. 14Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Analyst
  • Estimator
  • Cost Analyst
  • Cost Engineer
  • Job Estimator
  • Cost Estimator
  • Service Writer
  • Civil Estimator
  • Cost Consultant
  • Cost Estimators

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Principles of AccountingDraws directly on Economics and Accounting — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EconomicsDraws directly on Economics and Accounting — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Mathematics88%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Economics and Accounting79%

    Principles of AccountingEconomics

  • Computers and Electronics70%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Engineering and Technology68%

    PhysicsAdditional MathematicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Building and Construction66%

    Civil Engineering StudiesEngineering DrawingDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • English Language64%

    English

Skills to build

Analytical thinkingPrecisionTeamwork

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never
  • Time spent sittingAlmost all the time
  • Time spent standingA little

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Use remote sensing technologies or drones to evaluate site conditions when in-person visits are not feasible.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

15%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in the private market

Monthly pay from fresh grad to mid-career, from the salary guide cited on this page.

Entry

Private
RM2,400 – RM3,300

Mid-career

Private
RM4,500 – RM8,000

Government pay isn't shown: we haven't yet sourced the SSPA civil-service salary tables, and we won't estimate them.

Job demand outlook

Stable

Steady, reliable demand: a consistent number of openings.

Your readiness

How your current SPM subjects line up with this career.

Add your SPM grades to see how ready you are for this career.

Add my grades

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

International Pre-U

A-Levels, AUSMAT, IB and more. The flexible premium route, local or overseas.

1–2 years

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Cost Estimators

Source: PayScale / Indeed Malaysia · as of Dec 2025

Check the salary figures yourself:PayScaleIndeed Malaysia

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue