How To Become A Cost Estimator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a cost estimator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

When we purchase a product or avail of a service, we rarely think about the effort it takes to produce them. Products or services are not made overnight. There are processes involved in planning, manufacturing, and selling these items. Before products or services become available to the market, they go through various stages. One of the earliest stages involves estimating how much raw materials, time, and manpower it would cost to finish a product or service. This is where cost estimators come in.

Cost estimators are professionals who handle the collection, analysis, and assessment of data regarding the price of the raw materials, labor, and time needed to manufacture a product or create a service. Their job is important because it also determines how much the product or service can be sold to make it both profitable to the company and affordable to the customers.

Often, cost estimators specialize in a specific industry, product, or function. If this is interesting to you, you need to build up your industry knowledge and experience. You also need to be organized, analytical, and logical. Of course, you also need to be an excellent team player since you will be coordinating with people.

ScoreCost EstimatorUS Average

Salary

5.4

Avg. Salary $69,727

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.3

Growth rate -2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 4.55%

Black or African American 2.26%

Hispanic or Latino 14.12%

Unknown 3.82%

White 75.01%

Gender

female 23.74%

male 76.26%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a cost estimator

Explore cost estimator education requirements

Most common cost estimator degrees

Bachelor's

66.6 %

Associate

17.2 %

Master's

10.0 %

Start to develop specific cost estimator skills

Skills	Percentages
Worksheets	29.54%
Risk Analysis	21.14%
Project Management	3.70%
Cost Analysis	2.90%
PowerPoint	2.79%

Complete relevant cost estimator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cost estimators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cost estimator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cost estimator resumes.

Gain additional cost estimator certifications

Cost estimator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific cost estimator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for cost estimators include Certified Construction Manager (CCM) and Engineer In Training Certification (EIT).

More About Certifications

Research cost estimator duties and responsibilities

Manage prevailing wage for payroll and prepare and submit bi-weekly certify payroll reports.
Assess effectiveness of quotation after 1st run (NPI).
Use 3D cad software to design parts and assemblies drawings for production use.
Coordinate demolition, construction, plumbing and painting crews, completing the project on time and under budget.

Prepare your cost estimator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cost estimator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cost estimator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable cost estimator resume templates

Build a professional cost estimator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your cost estimator resume.