How to hire a building construction estimator

How to hire a building construction estimator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step building construction estimator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a building construction estimator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new building construction estimator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The building construction estimator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A building construction estimator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, building construction estimators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents building construction estimator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Building Construction Estimator	Description	Hourly rate
   Building Construction Estimator	Cost estimators collect and analyze data in order to estimate the time, money, materials, and labor required to manufacture a product, construct a building, or provide a service. They generally specialize in a particular product or industry.	$16-38
   Estimator Project Manager	An estimator project manager is responsible for analyzing cost estimates by gathering cost information from suppliers and other third-party vendors. An estimator project manager must have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills, especially with measurement accuracy and evaluating important project metrics... Show more	$25-49
   Estimating Manager	An estimating manager will oversee the day-to-day activities of the estimating department. Your duties typically include implementing technical estimating procedures and standards and overseeing the project estimator's work... Show more	$29-71

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Quantity Take-Offs
   • Cost Analysis
   • Bid Specifications
   • Building Codes

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve and maintain high CSI ratings measure by an independent consumer rating firm.
   • Assist with development of design build requirements require by federal acquisition regulations or private clients.
   • Install cedar, standard and architectural shingles.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your building construction estimator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A building construction estimator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, building construction estimators' average salary in kentucky is 51% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level building construction estimators 56% less than senior-level building construction estimators.
   • Certifications. A building construction estimator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a building construction estimator's salary.

   Average building construction estimator salary

   $53,803yearly

   $25.87 hourly rate

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   Entry-level building construction estimator salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 30, 2025

4. Writing a building construction estimator job description

   A building construction estimator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a building construction estimator job description:

   Building construction estimator job description example

   • Ensure construction activities are being scheduled and completed for deadline closings.
   • Ensure quality, OHSA safety, and efficiency is being met at each individual job site.
   • Develop and maintain relationships with vendors, subcontractors, inspectors, building officials & engineers.
   • Meet with subcontractors on daily basis to provide instructions and inspect quality of work.
   • Job site problem resolution between all parties on the job site.
   • Coordinates all site construction activities as required to successfully complete the project.
   • Meets, discusses, and sets expectations to vendors and subcontractors before and during construction phases.
   • Set and conduct pre-construction meetings with buyer and listing agent to review standard features, upgrades/purchased options and location, house placement, drainage, slope, and other.
   • Physical or non-physical barriers.
   • Communicates with listing agent and ACM to ensure expectations are being met.
   • Conduct Home Owner Orientations with buyer prior to closings and ensures home is complete with all standard features, options per contract, and explanation of warranty procedures.
   • Ensures each home is complete per manufacturer requirements, code compliance, with quality and without defect so that no items are missing or inoperable.

   Company DescriptionParan Homes is a new construction homebuilder with communities in Atlanta, GA, Nashville, TN, and surrounding metropolitan areas with over 200 years of combined experience in the industry. Paran Homes was founded on the belief that the key to success is through delivering superior value to every customer by offering high quality homes at affordable prices. Here at Paran Homes, we take pride in hiring quality professionals. If you are pursuing a career in the new homebuilder industry, and have a strong desire to succeed, we would love to hear from you!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find building construction estimators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any building construction estimators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level building construction estimators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your building construction estimator job on Zippia to find and recruit building construction estimator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with building construction estimator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new building construction estimator

   Once you've found the building construction estimator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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