The 2018 Salary Survey by RICS and Macdonald & Company found that the base salaries grew on average by 11% to £50,969 across Scotland.

The survey assesses salary, rewards and attitudes from across the entire sector, taking results from almost 7,000 people of the 42 professionals strands of property, including Rural Practice, Commercial property, Facilities Management, Building Surveying, Construction, Asset Management, Quantity Surveying, Industrial Agency and Residential.

The survey reported that wage growth increased in all areas of the UK this year, with Northern Ireland seeing the greatest wage growth, closely followed by the South East and London. The average wage packages in Scotland were shown to have increased by £5,058, with those with higher qualifications seeing the greatest growth.

Those who reported receiving a pay rise in 2018 survey, received an average increase of 5.8% with remuneration packages also boosting professional base rates. Bonuses also increased to an average of £11,614 across Scotland.

Once again this year, the survey highlighted the benefits of being professionally qualified with RICS professionals across the UK earning 21% more than their counterparts. 14.2% of those who received a pay rise in the last year, across the UK, did so through gaining professional qualifications.

This year, on a national level, for those aged 26 and under, the gender pay gap remains at 3.5% throughout the UK, which is encouraging for new entrants to the sector. Working in a diverse work place environment also ranked higher on respondent’s agendas.

The survey did show, however, that on average male property professionals in Scotland did earn 37% more than their female counterparts, with those in higher positions seeing a greater disparity in wage difference.

As a sector, property continues to offer a diverse career for people making it an attractive sector to work in across the UK. Whilst pay continues to be professionals’ top priority a job offering a ‘range of interesting work’ and management style continues to rank highly when employees are assessing their job aspects. Attractive benefit packages also appealed with respondents citing contributory pensions, work phones, and paid subscription fees as taking precedent over flexitime, discounted lunches and profit share.

Almost half of respondents (45%) in Scotland believe their company will increase headcount in 2018, with companies across the UK focusing on entry level and graduate talent and increasing roles at the associate/staff level.

Looking ahead, an average of 26% of respondents in Scotland expect to see an increase in economic activity in the coming year.

Barry Cullen, RICS diversity & inclusion director, said: “The latest results from this survey show the built environment continues to be an attractive sector to work in with pay for professionals hitting highs not seen since the financial crisis. As headcount is once again expected to increase in 2018, more employers are placing greater focus on attracting and retaining talent, with attractive pay and benefit packages. However, organisations must embrace an offering beyond an attractive salary and benefits package if we are going to truly diversify the profession and meets the needs of our future.

“In 2018, the gender pay gap remains evident and whilst it is significantly less for those under 26, more still needs to be done. People should be able to bring their whole self to work in an inclusive environment, celebrating their individual talent irrespective of differences. For the property profession to be a world leader in Diversity and Inclusion we need to place diversity at the heart of an organisation and ensure we retain our talent and build off the great advances we are seeing with our younger professionals.”