What are Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors actually earning across London right now?

2026 Salary Survey – COMING SOON!

Every year, the same conversation comes up…

A candidate thinks they're underpaid.
A client thinks they're offering above market value.
More times than not, both sides are guessing.

With your input, we can help by providing them with accurate market insight.

We're launching our annual Salary Survey on 22 May 2026, focused on Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors across the London Built Environment, and we want to hear from YOU.

Whether you're a Senior QS wondering if it's time to push for a pay rise, a Director benchmarking your team's packages, or an Assistant PM figuring out what the next step looks like financially, this is the data that matters.

Real salary data. Real market insight. From the people actually doing the work.

We'll publish the full results in July, sent directly to everyone who takes part. You'll get a clear, honest picture of where salaries sit across levels, sectors, and company types so that you can make an informed decision, whether you're hiring or job hunting.

AND there's a Prize Draw!

As a thank you for your time, every fully completed response goes into a prize draw.
The Prize you ask…

2x £50 Amazon Gift Cards!!

Two winners will be drawn at random after the salary guide goes live in July.
Only one entry per person using a valid email address. (View T&Cs below.)

The more people who participate, the better the data. So, share the survey with colleagues and peers across the industry. We're looking for responses from all levels, Assistants through to Directors and Partners.

Three minutes. Real market insight. And a chance to WIN.

Want to receive the survey once it goes live?
Sign up below, and we will send it directly to your inbox.

T&C's

Huntsman Consult 2026 Salary Survey - Prize Draw Terms & Conditions

1. The Prize Draw
The prize draw is free to enter. No purchase or payment is required.

2. Eligibility
The prize draw is open to UK residents aged 18 or over who work for a UK consultancy within the built environment industry (PM or QS).

3. How to Enter

To enter the prize draw, participants must complete the 2026 Huntsman Consult Salary Survey in full via the link provided on 22 May 2026.
Partial completions will not qualify as a valid entry.
One entry per person. Multiple entries from the same individual will not be added to the final draw.
Only a valid, personal email address will qualify and be entered into the lucky draw.
Entry is FREE, and no purchase is necessary.

4. Entry Period
The survey and prize draw entry period opens on 22 May 2026 and closes at 23:59 on 30 June 2026.
Entries submitted outside of this period will not be accepted.

5. The Prize
Two (2) winners will receive one (1) Amazon gift card to the value of £50 (GBP).
The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable, and cannot be exchanged for cash or any alternative prize.

6. Winner Selection
The winners will be selected at random from all valid entries received within the entry period. The draw will take place early in July 2026.

7. Winner Notification
The winners will be notified by email using the address/number provided at the time of survey completion. The Promoter will make reasonable efforts to contact the winners. If the winners cannot be contacted or do not respond within 14 days of notification, there will be a redraw for a replacement winner/s.

8. Prize Announcement
The two (2) winners' first names and job roles may be announced publicly on Huntsman Consult's LinkedIn page and/or in email communications. Full name, employer, and any other identifying details will only be included with the explicit written consent of the winners. Participants consent to their first name and role being used in this manner as a condition of entry.

9. Data & Privacy
Personal data submitted as part of the survey will be used by Huntsman Consult Ltd to administer the prize draw and to produce the 2026 London Built Environment Salary Guide. Data will be handled in accordance with Huntsman Consult's Privacy Policy and applicable UK data protection legislation (UK GDPR). Survey responses used in the Salary Guide will be anonymised and aggregated. Personal contact details will not be shared with third parties without consent.

10. General
The Promoter (Huntsman Consult) accepts no responsibility for entries not received due to technical issues, internet connectivity failure, or any other reason beyond its reasonable control.

11. Responsible Promoter Statement
This is a free prize draw. No payment is required to enter, and no payment increases the chance of winning. The prize draw is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or administered by Amazon or any other third party.

Q1 2026: Exceeding Targets and Looking Ahead

By James Waissel, Founder & PM Recruiter

Q1 is done, and honestly, it's been a brilliant start to the year.

We set ourselves a target coming into 2026 and we've finished the quarter having delivered 100% above it. That's not something we take lightly. It reflects the trust that both candidates and clients have placed in us, and we don't underestimate that for a second.

To every project management and quantity surveying professional who came to us with their career in their hands, Thank You. And to every consultancy client who has partnered closely with us to find the right people for their businesses, we genuinely appreciate the confidence you've placed in Huntsman Consult. The results speak to what happens when both sides of the relationship are fully committed and aligned.

What the Market is Telling Us

It would be easy to just celebrate the numbers and move on, but the more interesting story is what we're seeing on the ground.

Demand within the commercial office space remains strong. Cut and carve, Cat A and Cat B fit-out, these are all areas where we're seeing consistent appetite for experienced talent. The hospitality sector continues to hold up well too.

The real headline, though, is residential. It's starting to come back. We're increasingly seeing clients in both the QS and PM space looking for experienced professionals to support build-to-rent, PBSA and co-living schemes. There's also a growing thread of change-of-use work coming through - office to hotel, office to residential - which is creating its own set of requirements for skilled, adaptable people who understand the complexity of those conversions.

What Q2 Holds

We're heading into the next quarter with momentum and a clear direction.

Beyond the sectors we're already active in, we're exploring new verticals, some of which we'll be sharing more on in the coming weeks. Huntsman is growing, and we're being deliberate about how we do that.

For candidates, our focus remains exactly what it's always been: understanding where you want to go and helping you get there, not just filling a role, but building a career.

For clients, we're doubling down on the quality and speed of our search. The market is competitive for talent right now, and the businesses that move with purpose are the ones winning.

We're looking forward to a strong Q2 and beyond. If you're a candidate thinking about your next move, or a business that needs the right people to deliver, let's talk. Get in touch with the Huntsman team today.

Get in touch with the Huntsman team today.

Here's to a successful quarter ahead.

Here is what James Waissel had to say:

End of 2025 Salary Guide by Huntsman Consult

Download our latest Q4 2025 Salary Guide
For Quantity Surveyors & Project Managers in the UK Built Environment.

Get the inside track on what professionals are really earning across the sector - from Graduate to Director level. Our latest guide is packed with:

Up-to-date salary bands for QS's and PM's
Real benefit trends and what candidates actually value
Market insights from 450+ professionals
What’s driving promotions, pay rises, and resignations as we head into 2026.

Whether you're hiring or job hunting, this guide helps you benchmark with confidence.

👉 Download your copy now and stay ahead of the curve.

It's time to benchmark your salary!

We have launched our end of year 2025 Salary Survey for Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors across London.

This quick survey will help you see how your salary and benefits compares within the current market, giving you a clear picture of where you stand as we head into 2026.

If you haven’t taken part in this survey yet, now’s the time!

Here is the link to complete the survey, it takes just a few minutes:
👉 Complete the Salary Survey

The full report, including salary trends, market movements, and key hiring insights, will be released in the first week of December.

Optimise your LinkedIn profile for better visibility!

Our Managing Director, James Waissel, is sharing some practical advice on how to improve your LinkedIn profile to get better visibility in a competitive market where top-tier talent is hard to come by and where competition within consultancies is extremely high.

Your LinkedIn profile should tell the story of your career achievements, help you stand out and attract potential employers, recruiters and new clients showing them why you are the perfect person for the job when on the market or trying to generate new business for your existing firm.

Here is what James has to says:

James Waissel at Huntsman Consult

How to make your CV stand out in the UK Built Environment

CV Writing Tips for Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors

Your CV isn’t a job description. It’s your proposition of worth.

The UK built environment is evolving faster than ever. Sustainability pressures, digital transformation, funding challenges, and shifting client expectations mean employers are no longer just hiring “project managers” or “quantity surveyors.”

They’re hiring problem-solvers who can deliver measurable outcomes in uncertain conditions.

Yet too many CV’s still read like outdated job descriptions:
“Managed X project. Oversaw Y team. Chaired stakeholder meetings. Delivered Z tasks.”

It sounds fine on paper, but here’s the problem… That could be anyone. It tells me what you were responsible for, not what you changed. And in a competitive UK market where every role attracts dozens of applicants, generic CV’s don’t survive the shortlist stage.

Your CV must do more than say what you did. It must prove the difference you made.

Why traditional CV’s no longer work

For years, “responsibility-driven” CV’s were tolerated. Not anymore.
The landscape has shifted:

Clients demand value: With tighter budgets and rising material costs, employers want evidence of commercial acumen. If you can show you’ve delivered savings, improved efficiency, or added unexpected value, you’re already ahead.
Projects are digitally led: BIM, cost modelling tools, and AI-driven reporting are increasingly standard. Employers want professionals who are fluent in these systems and can use them to make projects smarter, not just compliant.
Resilience is tested daily: Delays, disputes, and political uncertainty are part of the job. CV’s that show examples of leadership under pressure will stand out.
Leadership has shifted: It’s no longer about “line management.” It’s about influence, client trust, and your ability to bring fractured teams together around a shared goal.

This is why your CV can’t be a diary of duties. It needs to be a strategic document that tells a hiring manager why you’re a catalyst for better outcomes.

Ask yourself:

Did you save money for the client?
Did you rescue a failing project that was on the brink?
Did you deliver faster than expected or unlock unexpected value?

Every bullet point on your CV should answer one question: What changed because I was there?
That’s impact. And impact is what makes clients and consultancies pay attention to you.

Translate activity into Impact

Impact is the proof that you’re not just filling a role - you’re shaping outcomes.
Here’s the difference:

❌ Activity-focused CV line:
“Managed projects from inception to completion.”
✅ Impact-focused CV line:
“Delivered a £25m commercial scheme two months ahead of schedule, achieving a £1.2m saving through value engineering decisions.”

❌ Activity-focused CV line:
“Responsible for cost planning and reporting.”
✅ Impact-focused CV line:
“Produced robust cost plans for a £100m mixed-use development, identifying £3m in savings and improving forecast accuracy by 15%.”

See the difference?
One tells me what you did. The other tells me why you were worth hiring.

What employers are really looking for

The UK built environment is shifting fast, clients want more than a “safe pairs of hands.” In 2025 and beyond, PM’s and QS’s who thrive will have CV’s that demonstrate:

Commercial foresight – Not just “cost control” but real examples of unlocking value, mitigating risk, and improving margins.
Digital advantage – BIM, AI-based forecasting, data-led dashboards. Employers want candidates who can show they’ve moved projects forward by using technology intelligently.
Stakeholder agility – Evidence that you’ve won trust, resolved conflict, and turned adversarial situations into collaborative ones.
Resilience in volatility – Clients are asking: “What did you do when things went wrong?” Showing how you rescued or recalibrated projects is powerful proof of your worth.
Sustainability alignment – With ESG targets becoming non-negotiable, CVs that show experience in delivering low-carbon, socially responsible, or future-proof projects give you an edge.

These are the results that separate strong candidates from the rest.

Here are a few practical CV Tips for PM’s & QS’s

Tailor for the market you’re in – A CV for a heritage project role should look different from one aimed at cutting-edge commercial schemes.
Evidence with data – £ savings, % improvements, time reductions, programme certainty. These metrics cut through immediately.
Prioritise impact in the top third – Employers skim before they read. Make your headline achievements unmissable.
Use language of outcomes, not duties – “Delivered, improved, secured, reduced, increased” are verbs that show impact.
Connect to industry priorities – If you’ve worked on net zero targets, digital transformation, or client relationship turnarounds - say it. Those are today’s hiring triggers.
Keep it lean: 2–3 pages max. Quality over quantity.

Final Thought

Here’s the forward-looking truth: within the next 5 years, traditional CV’s will likely evolve further. Digital portfolios, LinkedIn visibility, and project-based evidence (dashboards, BIM data, client testimonials) will increasingly supplement paper CV’s.

But for now, the best CV’s for UK PM’s and QS’s are the ones that show your worth. A clear, evidence-backed argument for why hiring you results in better outcomes.

Think of your CV as a business case. A title tells me what seat you occupied.
Duties tell me what you were expected to do. Results tell me why you’re the person worth hiring.

👉 So, does your CV talk about impact, or just activity?

How Huntsman Consult Can Help

At Huntsman Consult, we specialise in placing Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors across London and the wider UK built environment.

We know exactly what hiring consultancies want to see, and how to position your CV so it rises above the noise.

Whether you’re looking to step up into a senior role, break into a new sector, or simply make sure your CV reflects the true impact of your work, we can help.

Get in touch today to have a confidential conversation about your next career move.
Let’s make sure your CV tells the story that gets you hired.