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How to hire a cost engineer

Cost engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring cost engineers in the United States:

  • There are currently 10,313 cost engineers in the US, as well as 65,278 job openings.
  • Cost engineers are in the highest demand in Los Angeles, CA, with 6 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a cost engineer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new cost engineer to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a cost engineer, step by step

To hire a cost engineer, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a cost engineer, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step cost engineer hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a cost engineer job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cost engineer
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a cost engineer do?

A cost engineer is responsible for projecting cost and expenses reports for the production process, identify and mitigate risks, and develop strategic techniques to reduce the excessive financial loss for project buildings. Cost engineers conduct data and statistical analysis to measure time deliverables and quality checks to ensure profitability and adherence to business objectives. They research and negotiate materials from trusted suppliers and vendors with high-quality products that would meet construction designs and client specifications.

Learn more about the specifics of what a cost engineer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The cost engineer 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?

    Hiring the perfect cost engineer 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.

    The following list breaks down different types of cost engineers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Cost EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Cost EngineerElectrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, such as broadcast and communications systems—from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPSs).$30-57
    Research And Development EngineerResearch and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies... Show more$35-64
    Product Development EngineerA Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.$30-54
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Project Management
    • Cost Analysis
    • Construction Management
    • Project Controls
    • Cost Data
    • Cost Models
    • Cost Estimates
    • Construction Projects
    • Cost Control
    • Cost Reduction
    • Design Changes
    • Cost Management
    • Project Budget
    • Primavera
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage and monitor SharePoint activities and update daily tasks to ensure information is documented, remains accurate and up-to-date.
    • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
    • Create BOM for each project assuring special procedures, materials requirements and reinforcements.
    • Research and analyze various commodities for function to price and price to cost evaluation.
    • Design and install a complete integrate information management system on IBM equipment and ERP software.
    • Document all corporate procedures and policies instruction to establish constancy within GAAP rules and regulation.
    More cost engineer duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, cost engineers' average salary in south dakota is 45% less than in rhode island.
    • Seniority. Entry-level cost engineers 47% less than senior-level cost engineers.
    • Certifications. A cost engineer 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 cost engineer's salary.

    Average cost engineer salary

    $87,901yearly

    $42.26 hourly rate

    Entry-level cost engineer salary
    $64,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 21, 2025

    Average cost engineer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$102,078$49
    2Michigan$96,274$46
    3Maryland$95,292$46
    4Washington$95,142$46
    5Texas$94,131$45
    6Massachusetts$91,891$44
    7Alaska$89,406$43
    8Virginia$85,110$41
    9Oregon$83,393$40
    10Hawaii$81,419$39
    11Missouri$80,922$39
    12New Hampshire$80,118$39
    13Illinois$79,858$38
    14New York$78,402$38
    15Mississippi$76,821$37
    16North Carolina$75,800$36
    17Georgia$74,154$36
    18Nebraska$74,082$36
    19South Carolina$73,718$35
    20Ohio$71,762$35

    Average cost engineer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1BP America Inc$136,539$65.646
    2Meta$131,321$63.1460
    3Nike$118,349$56.90
    4Exxon Mobil$104,514$50.2510
    5General Motors$104,098$50.05126
    6Coach$103,038$49.54
    7Lucid Motors$99,831$48.0036
    8FCA US LLC$99,337$47.7610
    9CITGO Petroleum$99,060$47.63
    10Air Products$98,732$47.47
    11Rivian$97,741$46.9929
    12Harley-Davidson$97,355$46.813
    13TRW Automotive Holdings$97,242$46.75
    14Philips$96,570$46.432
    15TTI Maumee Equipment$96,370$46.33
    16Praxair$96,295$46.30
    17Stanley Black & Decker$94,863$45.6124
    18The Judge Group$94,797$45.581
    19Koch Industries$93,862$45.135
    20General Electric$93,520$44.9677
  4. Writing a cost engineer job description

    A cost engineer 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 cost engineer job description:

    Cost engineer job description example

    Responsibilities

    The TA & MM Cost Engineering team is responsible for cost estimation, cost control and benchmarking of Turnarounds and Major Maintenance. TA's are typically grouped in an event by multiple consequential production units, taken down for major maintenance, with the inspection and repair period typically lasting some 6 weeks. In general, TA events at Pernis are held during Spring and Fall of each year. Requires 5+yrs of experience.

    The TA & MM Cost Engineer is responsible for:

    Delivers both the Type 3 bottom up estimate as well as the final estimate.

    Earned Value / Value Of Work Done is to be reported on a monthly basis in line with finance reporting requirements governing the different budget types (OPEX, CAPEX).

    Latest Estimates are generally reported on a monthly basis and weekly during Turnaround execution. Here both the direct scope is reported as well as Turnaround team managed scope for different stakeholders.

    Take responsibility for financial closure of projects, including Final Cost Settlement reports for main contractors and filing within standards.

    Maintain the cost impact of the change log in close cooperation with the lead planner and increase Purchase Orders accordingly if required.

    Provide guidance for cost sharing between different budget holders (pro-ratable cost). Provide cost transfers as per agreements to ensure budget availability for the project.

    Provide input for Investment Proposals, ensure budget is released accordingly and ensure liquidity throughout all phases of the Turnaround.

    Delivery performance indicators (KPIs) in line with standards.

    Perform ad hoc problem solving and analytical requests from internal and external stakeholders.

    Strong prioritization skills, flexibility and client centered focus are essential. It is expected to simultaneously manage different projects and cooperate with different teams. The work location is generally at the execution team, which is considered a high intensity work environment.

    Closely collaborate with contractors to ensure procurement is per agreements. Provide information to the contractors as needed and receive credible forecasts, which serve as input for the Latest Estimate. This entails the whole process from requisition, purchase order up to final settlement. Cost impact of scope changes, variations and claims are to be managed accordingly. This is to be done in close consultation with Contracts & Procurement as well as the Contract Management Team.

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right cost engineer for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your cost engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit cost engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting cost engineers 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.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    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 cost engineer

    Once you've decided on a perfect cost engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new cost engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  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 cost engineer?

Recruiting cost engineers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $87,901 per year for a cost engineer, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for cost engineers in the US typically range between $30 and $57 an hour.

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