How to hire a construction estimator

How to hire a construction estimator, step by step

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

What does a construction estimator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the construction estimator you need to hire. Certain construction estimator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a construction estimator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a construction estimator that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of construction estimators.

   Type of Construction Estimator	Description	Hourly rate
   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.	$24-50
   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:

   • Construction Management
   • Project Management
   • Cost Estimates
   • Customer Service
   • Quantity Take-Offs
   • Sage
   • Value Engineering
   • Historical Data
   • Timberline
   • Sub Contractors
   • Construction Cost
   • Bid Packages
   • PowerPoint
   • Project Scope

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage prevailing wage for payroll and prepare and submit bi-weekly certify payroll reports.
   • Supervise the installation of electronics, plumbing and penning.
   • Complete requests for information (RFI) and log them for future reference.
   • Complete estimates using spreadsheet models, cad models, similar designs and grass roots techniques.
   • Estimate cost of various building projects, pole barns, decks, plumbing, electrical supplies.
   • Gather, submit, and track relevant request for information (RFI) to project owner.

   More construction estimator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your construction estimator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A construction estimator salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a construction estimator in Mississippi may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level construction estimator usually earns less than a senior-level construction estimator. Additionally, a construction estimator with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average construction estimator salary

   $72,383yearly

   $34.80 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level construction estimator salary

   $50,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average construction estimator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$97,878	$47
   2	California	$94,428	$45
   3	District of Columbia	$90,800	$44
   4	Oregon	$85,797	$41
   5	Maryland	$81,803	$39
   6	Illinois	$80,093	$39
   7	Virginia	$77,049	$37
   8	Pennsylvania	$76,884	$37
   9	Michigan	$75,876	$36
   10	Washington	$75,730	$36
   11	New York	$75,222	$36
   12	Ohio	$73,804	$35
   13	Colorado	$73,680	$35
   14	Maine	$73,243	$35
   15	Minnesota	$72,493	$35
   16	Missouri	$70,760	$34
   17	Indiana	$69,032	$33
   18	Arizona	$65,774	$32
   19	Wisconsin	$65,758	$32
   20	Kansas	$63,329	$30

   Average construction estimator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Amazon	$122,382	$58.84	174
   2	Parsons	$115,807	$55.68	72
   3	First National Realty	$107,240	$51.56
   4	PCS Retirement	$104,768	$50.37
   5	The Bonadio Group	$102,911	$49.48
   6	Tesla	$94,190	$45.28	21
   7	TDIndustries	$93,776	$45.08
   8	Carter Lumber	$92,196	$44.33	13
   9	PMSI	$88,853	$42.72	3
   10	EMCOR Group	$88,428	$42.51	128
   11	Lucid Motors	$88,145	$42.38
   12	Michels	$87,874	$42.25	44
   13	W.W. Clyde	$87,098	$41.87	5
   14	CyberCoders	$85,951	$41.32	41
   15	NOCO	$85,523	$41.12	1
   16	BL Harbert International	$85,405	$41.06	1
   17	Woods Services	$85,320	$41.02
   18	PMA Consultants	$84,471	$40.61	6
   19	Barry-Wehmiller	$84,418	$40.59	18
   20	Silver Lake	$83,911	$40.34

4. Writing a construction estimator job description

   A good construction estimator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a construction estimator job description:

   Construction estimator job description example

   • At least fifteen (15) years estimating experience; experience to be specifically in a construction environment.
   • Proficient in the MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
   • Experience with dedicated estimating software.
   • Good oral and written communication skills.

   ADDITIONAL NOTES

   Other duties may be assigned as necessary. Must be able to independently travel and be physically present in the office or at a client site. Works in a dedicated office environment. Infrequent day trips may be required; overnight trips are rare.

   At Gannett Fleming, we believe in improving the lives of the people we serve. We believe in innovation and social responsibility. We believe in the diversity of our team and the creative solutions they provide. We believe in embracing change and emerging technologies while maintaining an unmatched standard of quality. We believe in creating an environment where employees can thrive at home and at work. We believe in engaging our employees, building lasting relationships with our clients, and, in turn, making a difference in the world.

   We offer a comprehensive benefits program, which includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance, our tax-deferred 401 (K) savings plan, and the opportunity to incentive compensation for eligible positions. We are committed to your personal growth and professional development, so we offer tuition reimbursement, access to internal and external training programs and support active participation in professional organizations.

   Gannett Fleming is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans status or other characteristics protected by law.

   Gannett Fleming will not sponsor an employment visa (e.g., H-1B visa), including any visa renewal during employment, for any candidate for this position. No relocation assistance will be provided for this position. Local candidates will be given preference.

   NO AGENCIES PLEASE : Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will not be accepted.

   Location:This position can reside anywhere in the country as primarily will work from home.
   Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right construction estimator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with construction estimators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit construction estimators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting construction estimators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 construction estimator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the construction estimator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new construction estimator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire a construction estimator?