Cost Engineer vs Quantity Surveyor: Difference between them

The construction industry is a huge sector that employs many people. There is no lack of diversity when it comes to types of jobs in the construction industry. Sometimes the duties of two job titles may have slight overlap and then people will start using these job titles synonymously. This is a mistake most of the time. Is Cost Engineer vs Quantity Surveyor one such case? While both of them have a role of managing the costs of a project, there must be some differences when it comes to their duties. Or does it not? Let us read on to know if they are different or just the same roles with different titles.

Get the best online course in Quantity Surveying at your fingertips! Click here!

Cost Engineer vs Quantity Surveyor: Difference between them

Various aspects are different when it comes to the job of Cost Engineer vs Quantity Surveyor. Let us start with knowing what each job title means.

Who is a Quantity Surveyor?

The main role of a Quantity Surveyor is the financial management of projects in the construction industry. The Quantity Surveyor has to ensure that the project is completed on time and within the proposed budget. QS professionals also make sure that the structure that is being built is on par with all the local construction rules and regulations and meets the standards put forth by the client. They are involved throughout the project from the planning stage to the final stage. They ensure that quality to the quality-to-price ratio of a construction process is good.

Who is a Cost Engineer?

Cost engineers manage the project costs in construction. However, the main aim of a cost Engineer is to ensure that the project is carried out in such a way as to obey laws and quality standards. Cost Engineer identifies the costs associated with a construction project, then they analyse them and make sure that they are managed effectively. They work closely with the project management team and Quantity Surveyors.

Join the best quantity surveying course of the year 2024! Register now!

The Responsibilities of a Quantity Surveyor

The main roles of Quantity Surveyors are listed below.

• The first one is cost estimation and planning. They prepay the budget and ensure the completion of the project within the budget.
• Contract administration falls under the duties of a Quantity Surveyor. They prepare and administer the contract between a client and a contractor. Quantity Surveyors also ensure that the contractor is complying with the statements and terms made in the contract.
• Quantity Surveyors also carry out the value engineering aspects possible in a project. They find and carry out cost savings ideas that do not affect the quality of the projects.

The Responsibilities of a Cost Engineer

The main duties of a cost engineer are listed below.

• A cost engineer prepares the cost estimate of a project and then updates this estimate as the project progresses.  They also track the costs associated with the project and ensure they are within the planned amounts.
• Cost engineers also play a major role in the value engineering process i.e. implementing measures that reduce costs without compromising on the quality of the project.
• Get the best placement opportunities! Join the Entri app quantity surveying course!

Cost Engineer vs Quantity Surveyor: Actual Difference

From reading the above paragraphs we can see that almost all duties provided in the list for both jobs have a significant amount of overlap. It makes you wonder what the actual difference between them is.

One difference between a Cost Engineer and vs Quantity Surveyor is the extent of involvement of each in a project. The involvement of the Quantity Surveyor is very much more than the Cost Engineer.

Another difference is in their educational background.  The Quantity Surveyor often has a degree in Quantity Surveying. The educational background of Cost engineers is engineering. So the route taken to the profession is the major difference between a Cost Engineer and vs Quantity Surveyor.

The cost engineers lack professional training in this subject in their college time. A degree program in cost engineering doesn’t exist. But they learn cost management, estimating, scheduling etc as a part of the coursework in civil engineering. There is no standardized career path for becoming a cost engineer.

They attend a certification program that gives them the training to do the job quantity surveyors are doing after their degree.

But it is quantity surveyors that receive practical and formal education in this field. The career of a Quantity Surveyor has a set path. The post of cost engineer often doesn’t put mandatory requirements for certification. However, earning a certification in the said field improves your chances of faster career growth and better remuneration. Check out the Quantity Surveying certification provided by the Entri app that comes along with mentor support, live classes, projects and placement support.

It is also seen that Quantity Surveying is mainly concerned with the design of buildings and construction while cost engineers are mainly concerned about engineering and processes.

Become a Quantity Surveyor with placement assistance! Get a Demo Video! 

Cost Engineer and Quantity Surveyor Salary 

Let us look into the average salaries of these jobs to know if there is any difference between them. The average salary of a Quantity Surveyor in India is ₹396,400 per annum. For a fresher, it is around ₹250,000 per annum. But some people earn as much as  ₹10,00,000 every year as a Quantity Surveyor. Now in the case of a cost engineer, the average annual salary in India is around ₹6,50,000. A fresher with zero experience might get ₹2,00,000 per annum easily. If experienced they can earn up to 10.5 lakhs annually.

So, in the discussion of the Cost Engineer vs Quantity Surveyor topic, we can conclude that they are very similar jobs with similar work profiles. The only major difference is the academic path chosen by the said professional.

Cost Engineer vs Quantity Surveyor FAQs

1. Are Cost Engineers and Quantity Surveyors the same jobs?

No. Cost Engineer and Quantity Surveyor are two different jobs and are performed by people from different educational backgrounds. But their duties show significant similarity with each other.

2. What should you study to become a Quantity Surveyor?

There are many courses one can study to become a Quantity Surveyor. Look into the Quantity Surveyor course given by the Entri app.