Insurance Risk Surveyor

An insurance risk surveyor inspects buildings, sites and operations, usually commercial and industrial ones, on behalf of insurers. They assess the conditions that affect how risky a property is to insure, such as fire protection, security systems, building construction and work practices. They write reports for underwriters, recommend changes that could reduce the risk of loss, and provide information that helps set the terms and price of cover. This is different from a loss adjuster, who assesses damage after a claim.

Visit factories, warehouses, offices and other sites to inspect buildings and operations. Assess fire protection, such as sprinklers, alarms and fire separation. Check security systems and how hazardous materials and processes are managed. Talk with site managers about operations, maintenance and safety practices. Take photos and notes about the building and how it is used. Write survey reports that explain the risks for underwriters. Recommend practical steps the business could take to reduce the risk of loss. Follow up on whether earlier recommendations have been put in place.

The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You need technical knowledge across many industries, from fire protection to manufacturing processes, and it takes time to build. The role involves a lot of travel to sites, sometimes in industrial settings with safety hazards. Your recommendations can cost a business money, so you may face pushback from site managers and brokers.

In practice, many jobs are based in capital cities where insurers and broking firms have offices, with travel to sites across metropolitan and regional areas. Most roles mix site visits with office time for writing reports.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 5996, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Actuarial sciencecore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Claims procedurescore
• Classify insurance claimscore
• Eligibility Assessmentcore
• Negotiationcore
• Policy Interpretationcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Active Listening
• Advise on property value
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Confidentiality and Privacy Compliance
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Data Entry and Accuracy
• Incident Reporting
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Process Documentation
• Time Management and Prioritisation

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 10 October 2026