How to hire a building estimator

How to hire a building estimator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step building 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 estimator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new building estimator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a building estimator job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The building 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

   Hiring the perfect building estimator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents building estimator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Building Estimator	Description	Hourly rate
   Building 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.	$18-43
   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:

   • HVAC
   • Cost Estimates
   • Bid Packages
   • Construction Projects
   • Commercial Buildings
   • Building Materials
   • RFQ
   • CAD
   • Material Take-Offs

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the estimating of a commercial & industrial plumbing and mechanical contracting business.
   • Obtain measurements, photos and documentation to process remotely Xactimate estimates to submit for insurance and customer approval.
   • Procure LEED specifications on various products to ensure compliance with customer preferences including reclaim material.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, building estimators' average salary in alabama is 53% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level building estimators 57% less than senior-level building estimators.
   • Certifications. A building 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 estimator's salary.

   Average building estimator salary

   $60,023yearly

   $28.86 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level building estimator salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a building estimator job description

   A building 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 estimator job description:

   Building estimator job description example

   Job Details
   
   Level
   
   Experienced
   
   Job Location
   
   Rex Moore - Corporate - Sacramento, CA
   
   Position Type
   
   Full Time
   
   Travel Percentage
   
   Negligible
   
   Job Shift
   
   Day
   
   WORK ENVIRONMENT :
   
   The Design/Build Estimator is responsible for developing a project throughout the preconstruction phase. The ideal candidate will have the ability to multi-task and make quick decisions regarding pricing, codes, standards and design.
   
   ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
   
   Develop conceptual designs and estimates for electrical projects, from architectural, general arrangement or engineering plans in order to negotiate/bid new electrical work for Rex Moore
   
   Review takeoffs for accuracy and completeness
   
   Negotiate various types of electrical work with existing and new clients via phone, email or personal office visits
   
   Communicate the project design requirements to the engineering team and attend design meetings with the engineer, project manager and/or client once a project is rewarded
   
   Work with Engineering, Estimating and Production to ensure the project is engineered, estimated and built efficiently and that all the essential players have the tools for success
   
   Communicate details to Engineering, Estimating, Production and Accounting departments in order to provide a complete and competitive bid
   
   Follow up calls to clients to negotiate past estimated projects or future work
   
   Follow up on all proposals to determine performance and document findings
   
   Maintain existing client relations as well as develop new customer relations
   
   Ensure a proper turnover between Estimating, Engineering and Production departments.
   
   Obtain construction feedback during and at the end of the project from all departments to determine improvements needed for future projects
   
   Field job-site meetings with owners and owners reps as required to promote Rex Moores capabilities
   
   Review, analyze and discuss labor rates and wages with Human Resources and other Design Build Estimators
   
   Review, analyze and discuss project designs with the Engineering department
   
   Develop strong relationships with vendors
   
   Develop multiple estimates concurrently
   
   Obtain, analyze and develop electrical equipment vendor and subcontractor bid packages
   
   Remain current with the latest city, state, utility and national codes standards
   
   Develop bid clarifications and value engineering submittals
   
   Discuss the approach of a project with personnel who handled a particular client
   
   Determine unit pricing as needed based on past experience with the client and historical data
   
   Attend client functions
   
   REPORTING STRUCTURE:
   
   This position reports directly to the Preconstruction Director
   
   CAREER ADVANCEMENT:
   
   Career advancement at Rex Moore is possible with all positions, but not guaranteed, and could be within the current department as well as other departments within the company.
   
   LOCATION:
   
   Rex Moore has branch offices located in Sacramento, Fresno and Hayward, CA.
   
   COMPENSATION:
   
   Rex Moore pays hourly/salary rates commensurate with each employees knowledge, experience and skill level.
   
   EOE
   
   SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS :
   Knowledge of electrical installation methods and National Electrical Code (NEC) for typical residential and commercial construction
   General product and product installation knowledge
   Previous experience in an Electrical Construction/Consulting company
   Be able to read electrical, mechanical, structural and architectural plans
   Strong sales and marketing, presentation and organization skills
   Electrical Engineering degree, electrical apprenticeship completion and journey level electrical construction experience highly preferred
   
   PM22
   
   

   PI193588975

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find building estimators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your building estimator job on Zippia to find and recruit building 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 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 estimator

   Once you've found the building 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new building estimator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a building estimator?