Will AI replace quantity surveyors?
Updated
Cost estimators score 53 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 51%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 35% outright, and 14% stays with people.
- 35% AI can do it
- 51% AI helps
- 14% Needs a person
High exposure
Higher than 81% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 14 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 5 of them today, speeds up 7 and leaves 2 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors. AI maintains supplier records and flags outdated contact details. | 80% AI can do it |
| Prepare cost and expenditure statements and other necessary documentation at regular intervals for the duration of the project. Routine statements from ledger data; AI drafts, estimator reviews. | 75% AI can do it |
| Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products. AI queries and cleans cost records; estimator checks relevance. | 72% AI can do it |
| Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops. AI computes variances and flags overruns; manager interprets causes. | 62% AI can do it |
| Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work. AI drafts schedules and cost plans; managers review and adjust. | 62% AI can do it |
| Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates. AI extracts quantities from plans; estimator verifies and prices. | 55% AI helps |
| Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors. AI builds comparison estimates; human picks vendors and signs off. | 55% AI helps |
| Set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures. AI configures reports and dashboards; staff take responsibility for design choices. | 55% AI helps |
| Review material and labor requirements to decide whether it is more cost-effective to produce or purchase components. AI runs cost comparisons; decision depends on capacity and strategy. | 50% AI helps |
| Conduct special studies to develop and establish standard hour and related cost data or to reduce cost. AI analyzes time records; study design and observation need people. | 45% AI helps |
Show the other 4 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations. Negotiation stays human; AI can run tender admin and comparisons. | 30% AI helps |
| Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates. Live talks stay human; AI drafts notes and change summaries. | 25% AI helps |
| Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues. Resolving issues with foremen and clients needs live human judgement. | 18% Needs a person |
| Visit site and record information about access, drainage and topography, and availability of utility services. Physical site visit needs a person on location. | 8% Needs a person |
How cost estimators compare
All occupations (923)
Business and financial operations (48)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $78,740 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 224,220 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- -3.1% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Walk sites and record access, drainage, and utility services
- Verify AI quantity takeoffs in PlanSwift and On-Screen Takeoff
- Run tender comparisons and lead subcontractor negotiations
- Explain cost variances to managers from SAP and Excel data
- Hold the AACE International Certified Cost Professional credential
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about cost estimators and AI
Will quantity surveyors be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 5 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly keeping supplier directories current and preparing cost and expenditure statements. What stays with people is site visits, client and foreman talks, and negotiation with contractors.
Will AI take over quantity surveying?
AI can already do 35% of the task time in quantity surveying and speeds up another 51%. People still do 14% of it. The US has 224,220 cost estimator jobs, with a projected change of -3.1% from 2024 to 2034.
Which tasks is AI taking over for cost estimators?
Supplier directory upkeep comes first, with an exposure score of 80, because AI maintains records and flags outdated contact details. Cost and expenditure statements follow at 75, since AI drafts them from ledger data for the estimator to review. Historical cost data collection scores 72, as AI queries and cleans past records while the estimator checks which ones still apply.
Which tasks stay human for cost estimators?
Site visits stay human. Someone has to stand on the ground to record access, drainage, topography and utility services. Resolving issues with clients and construction foremen needs live judgement, and so does negotiation with contractors over the final price.
How can cost estimators stay valuable as AI takes over tasks?
Check every AI quantity takeoff in PlanSwift or On-Screen Takeoff before pricing it. Track actual costs against bids in SAP and Excel, and explain each overrun to the manager who is responsible for the budget. Take responsibility for the tender comparisons and subcontractor negotiations, which stay with people.
Related jobs
Next steps for cost estimators
Check which roles in your team AI can take on
We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first.
Related topics
- Jobs AI can't replaceCement masons score lowest, at 8.
- Jobs most at risk from AIProofreaders score highest, at 76.
- High-paying jobs with low AI exposureRadiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.
- Entry-level jobs with low AI exposureCement masons need little prior training and score 8.
- Jobs AI speeds up the mostFor natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.
- AI and jobs in Malta15 iGaming roles graded task by task.
- Skills that keep work humanThe skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.
- Jobs A to ZEvery job we publish, by first letter.
- AI exposure by industryAverage scores for 22 occupation groups.
- Write a CV screening software can readHow applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.
- AI for businessesThe tasks to automate first in each team and industry.
- How we score AI exposureThe grading, the weights and every source.