Chief estimator vs job estimator

The differences between chief estimators and job estimators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a chief estimator and a job estimator. Additionally, a chief estimator has an average salary of $98,498, which is higher than the $52,216 average annual salary of a job estimator.

The top three skills for a chief estimator include construction management, cost estimates and project management. The most important skills for a job estimator are customer service, purchase orders, and general contractors.

Chief estimator vs job estimator overview

	Chief Estimator	Job Estimator
Yearly salary	$98,498	$52,216
Hourly rate	$47.35	$25.10
Growth rate	-2%	-2%
Number of jobs	24,116	45,781
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	2	2

Chief estimator vs job estimator salary

Chief estimators and job estimators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Chief Estimator	Job Estimator
Average salary	$98,498	$52,216
Salary range	Between $67,000 And $142,000	Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City	Concord, CA	-
Highest paying state	Vermont	-
Best paying company	Payscale	-
Best paying industry	Finance	-

Differences between chief estimator and job estimator education

There are a few differences between a chief estimator and a job estimator in terms of educational background:

	Chief Estimator	Job Estimator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Chief estimator vs job estimator demographics

Here are the differences between chief estimators' and job estimators' demographics:

	Chief Estimator	Job Estimator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3%	Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 4.4% White, 75.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 2.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 4.5% White, 75.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between chief estimator and job estimator duties and responsibilities

Chief estimator example responsibilities.

Manage team of quoting specialists and control the overall quotation processes for all RFQ's.
Prepare equipment & HVAC installation estimates.
Conduct an audits program on an HVAC subcontractor that save the client $120m in back charges.
Develop and update Primavera scheduling and cost-control for electrical and mechanical activities in accordance with owner and general contractor planning strategies.
Order parts and supplies from various vendors, OEM and aftermarket.
Negotiate with OEM cost estimators on all new business pricing to finalize product pricing quotes.

Job estimator example responsibilities.

Manage the estimating of a commercial & industrial plumbing and mechanical contracting business.
Apply materials issue and used towards jobs weekly in MAS90 system.
Obtain measurements, photos and documentation to process remotely Xactimate estimates to submit for insurance and customer approval.
Work with Mitchell, ADP, CCC1 management systems.

Chief estimator vs job estimator skills

Common chief estimator skills

Construction Management, 11%
Cost Estimates, 8%
Project Management, 8%
Design-Build, 7%
General Contractors, 6%
Value Engineering, 6%

Common job estimator skills

Customer Service, 33%
Purchase Orders, 24%
General Contractors, 23%
CAD, 15%
Tig Welding, 5%