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The differences between construction estimators and project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project manager has an average salary of $91,578, which is higher than the $72,383 average annual salary of a construction estimator.
The top three skills for a construction estimator include construction management, project management and cost estimates. The most important skills for a project manager are project management, project scope, and customer service.
| Construction Estimator | Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $72,383 | $91,578 |
| Hourly rate | $34.80 | $44.03 |
| Growth rate | -2% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 37,047 | 167,116 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 4.17 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A construction estimator is responsible for determining project requirements, estimating metrics, including cost-analysis procedures and area inspection to spot potential inconsistencies, mitigate risks, and address production gaps. Construction estimators work closely with the engineers to identify construction requirements and specifications for forecasting. They also coordinate with construction suppliers and third-party vendors to negotiate pricing contracts for high-quality materials according to budget limitations. A construction estimator reports findings to management, recommending solutions and adjustments to achieve desired output and deadlines.
Project managers oversee a specific project related to the organization's business. They manage the whole project from inception to evaluation. They initiate planning with involved departments, follow-through on the plans, ensure smooth execution of the plans, and evaluate the project for further improvements should these be needed. In line with this, project managers also ensure that the project is cost-efficient and well within the budget. They also manage the different work teams involved in the project and ensure that things are running smoothly on this aspect as well.
Construction estimators and project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Construction Estimator | Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $72,383 | $91,578 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $104,000 | Between $64,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Technology |
There are a few differences between a construction estimator and a project manager in terms of educational background:
| Construction Estimator | Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between construction estimators' and project managers' demographics:
| Construction Estimator | Project Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.0% Female, 16.0% | Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 10% |