What does a chief estimator do?

Updated January 8, 2025

7 min read

A Chief Estimator is responsible for managing and directing the organization's estimating functions. They also develop and implement the standards and procedures of a department.

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Chief estimator responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real chief estimator resumes:

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.
Establish DRP plans and negotiations with new insurance companies.
Handle DRP responsibilities including writing compliant estimates.

Chief estimator skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of Chief Estimators are proficient in Construction Management, Cost Estimates, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Chief Estimators that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Construction Management, 11%
Trained construction management and City personnel in the preparation of change order estimates and strategies for negotiating with contractors.
Cost Estimates, 8%
Develop cost estimates and construction schedules for general construction and historic rehabilitation projects throughout the Southeast United States.
Project Management, 8%
Maintain direct accountability for the coordination, planning and execution of project management functions for concrete rehabilitation projects.
Design-Build, 7%
Contracted and managed design-build, lump-sum, and negotiated-bid contracts Budgets ranged from $600- 1,500/SF
General Contractors, 6%
Prepared and follow-up on construction documents for bidding and effective skills negotiating contracts with general contractors and subcontractors.
Value Engineering, 6%
Coordinate with design team to identify and evaluate value engineering opportunities.

Most chief estimators use their skills in "construction management," "cost estimates," and "project management" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential chief estimator responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a chief estimator to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what chief estimators do because "cost estimators must review and evaluate different construction and manufacturing methods to find cost-effective options." Additionally, a chief estimator resume shows how chief estimators use analytical skills: "worked with it company to set up onscreen takeoff and quickbid on a company server with a shared database. "

Detail oriented. This is an important skill for chief estimators to perform their duties. For an example of how chief estimator responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "cost estimators must be precise, because minor changes may greatly affect the overall expense of a project or product." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a chief estimator: "prepared detailed competitive bids for transmission and distribution projects. ".

Math skills. A big part of what chief estimators do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to chief estimator responsibilities because "cost estimators need excellent math skills to calculate labor, material, and equipment estimates for construction projects." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical chief estimator tasks: "prepared report on findings with conceptual and quantitative cost estimates of repairs to complete replacement. "

Time-management skills. A commonly-found skill in chief estimator job descriptions, "time-management skills" is essential to what chief estimators do. Chief estimator responsibilities rely on this skill because "cost estimators must plan in advance and work efficiently to meet their deadlines." You can also see how chief estimator duties rely on time-management skills in this resume example: "worked directly with sub-contractors and general contractors to ensure deadlines were being met. "

All chief estimator skills

The three companies that hire the most chief estimators are:

GPAC36 chief estimators jobs
CyberCoders13 chief estimators jobs
Kimmel & Associates
12 chief estimators jobs

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Compare different chief estimators

Chief estimator vs. Estimating assistant

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. Estimator project managers research the general market pricing of materials and labor costs, estimate production times, and follow the project timetable without compromising the quality and the client's specifications. They create estimate reports and risk analyses to discuss with the client and the project team.

We looked at the average chief estimator salary and compared it with the wages of an estimating assistant. Generally speaking, estimating assistants are paid $50,956 lower than chief estimators per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between chief estimators and estimating assistants are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like cost estimates, general contractors, and construction projects.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, chief estimator responsibilities require skills like "construction management," "project management," "design-build," and "value engineering." Meanwhile a typical estimating assistant has skills in areas such as "purchase orders," "worksheets," "subcontractor database," and "sub contractors." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Estimating assistants really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $56,112. Comparatively, chief estimators tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $128,226.estimating assistants tend to reach lower levels of education than chief estimators. In fact, estimating assistants are 5.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Chief estimator vs. Estimator/project coordinator

On average, estimator/project coordinators earn a $45,082 lower salary than chief estimators a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both chief estimators and estimator/project coordinators have skills such as "cost estimates," "general contractors," and "value engineering. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that chief estimator responsibilities requires skills like "construction management," "project management," "design-build," and "hcss." But an estimator/project coordinator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cad," "project scope," "purchase orders," and "sub contractors."

Estimator/project coordinators may earn a lower salary than chief estimators, but estimator/project coordinators earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $57,269. On the other hand, chief estimators receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $128,226.In general, estimator/project coordinators achieve similar levels of education than chief estimators. They're 4.6% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Chief estimator vs. Assistant estimator/project manager

On average scale, assistant estimator/project managers bring in lower salaries than chief estimators. In fact, they earn a $30,725 lower salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on chief estimators and assistant estimator/project managers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "construction management," "cost estimates," and "project management.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a chief estimator is likely to be skilled in "design-build," "business development," "screen takeoff," and "cost control," while a typical assistant estimator/project manager is skilled in "subcontractor bids," "purchase orders," "project scope," and "cad."

Assistant estimator/project managers earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $69,857. Comparatively, chief estimators have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $128,226.Most assistant estimator/project managers achieve a similar degree level compared to chief estimators. For example, they're 4.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Chief estimator vs. Estimator project manager

Estimator project managers typically earn lower pay than chief estimators. On average, estimator project managers earn a $24,952 lower salary per year.While both chief estimators and estimator project managers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like construction management, cost estimates, and general contractors, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A chief estimator uses "project management," "design-build," "hcss," and "screen takeoff." Estimator project managers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "sub contractors," "project scope," "cad," and "project cost. "In general, estimator project managers earn the most working in the energy industry, with an average salary of $77,488. The highest-paying industry for a chief estimator is the finance industry.The average resume of estimator project managers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to chief estimators. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 3.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.

Types of chief estimator

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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