Best cities for a cost estimator
The best cities for cost estimators are Anchorage, AK, Washington, DC, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for cost estimators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for cost estimators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a cost estimator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for cost estimators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for cost estimators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a cost estimator. While the absolute best city for cost estimators is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for cost estimators in 2024.
If you're looking for a cost estimator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for cost estimators in 2025
1. Anchorage, AK
Total cost estimator jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $82,669 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 6.35 2. Washington, DC
Total cost estimator jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $87,619 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location quotient: 2.96 3. New York, NY
Total cost estimator jobs: 255 Average annual salary: $76,558 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location quotient: 5.02 4. Toledo, OH
Total cost estimator jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $62,810 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 2.17 5. Oakland, CA
Total cost estimator jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $76,710 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 9.08 6. Seattle, WA
Total cost estimator jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $80,759 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 1.52 7. Portland, OR
Total cost estimator jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $73,919 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location quotient: 1.61 8. Boston, MA
Total cost estimator jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $87,530 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 1.26 9. Detroit, MI
Total cost estimator jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $70,715 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 1.07 10. Philadelphia, PA
Total cost estimator jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $68,580 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 0.86
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Best cities for cost estimators
- Anchorage, AK
- Washington, DC
- New York, NY
- Toledo, OH
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Portland, OR
- Boston, MA
- Detroit, MI
- Philadelphia, PA
- (10 cost estimator jobs)
- (53 cost estimator jobs)
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- (27 cost estimator jobs)
- (40 cost estimator jobs)
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- (13 cost estimator jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a cost estimator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $82,669 | $63,000 | 298,192 | 10 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $87,619 | $58,000 | 681,170 | 53 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $76,558 | $51,000 | 8,537,673 | 255 |
| 4 | Toledo, OH | $62,810 | $42,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $76,710 | $48,000 | 420,005 | 27 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $80,759 | $52,000 | 704,352 | 40 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $73,919 | $47,000 | 639,863 | 17 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $87,530 | $59,000 | 673,184 | 28 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $70,715 | $47,000 | 672,795 | 7 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,580 | $45,000 | 1,567,872 | 13 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $66,809 | $44,000 | 303,625 | 10 |
| 12 | Buffalo, NY | $74,992 | $50,000 | 256,902 | 12 |
| 13 | Mesa, AZ | $67,026 | $45,000 | 484,587 | 3 |
| 14 | Newark, NJ | $69,843 | $46,000 | 281,764 | 17 |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $76,631 | $48,000 | 495,234 | 17 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $67,586 | $46,000 | 311,404 | 8 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $67,208 | $45,000 | 1,615,017 | 20 |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $63,569 | $42,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 19 | El Paso, TX | $58,900 | $39,000 | 683,080 | 12 |
| 20 | Houston, TX | $57,379 | $38,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 21 | San Francisco, CA | $76,882 | $49,000 | 870,887 | 68 |
| 22 | Columbus, OH | $62,050 | $41,000 | 860,090 | 9 |
| 23 | Cincinnati, OH | $60,328 | $40,000 | 298,800 | 8 |
| 24 | Atlanta, GA | $62,150 | $41,000 | 472,522 | 71 |
| 25 | Fort Worth, TX | $57,390 | $38,000 | 854,113 | 32 |
| 26 | Laredo, TX | $57,372 | $38,000 | 257,156 | 3 |
| 27 | Henderson, NV | $57,164 | $37,000 | 292,969 | 8 |
| 28 | Fresno, CA | $74,005 | $47,000 | 522,053 | 5 |
| 29 | Chicago, IL | $64,779 | $43,000 | 2,704,958 | 65 |
| 30 | Raleigh, NC | $60,481 | $40,000 | 458,880 | 16 |
| 31 | Scottsdale, AZ | $67,198 | $45,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 32 | Nashville, TN | $62,587 | $42,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 33 | Garland, TX | $57,243 | $38,000 | 234,943 | 3 |
| 34 | Indianapolis, IN | $62,954 | $42,000 | 855,164 | 5 |
| 35 | Fort Wayne, IN | $64,834 | $43,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 36 | Memphis, TN | $61,328 | $41,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 37 | North Las Vegas, NV | $57,548 | $37,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 38 | San Jose, CA | $75,972 | $48,000 | 1,025,350 | 26 |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $66,872 | $45,000 | 465,101 | 10 |
| 40 | Kansas City, MO | $66,824 | $45,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 41 | Winston-Salem, NC | $59,858 | $40,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 42 | Brookhaven, NY | $76,837 | $51,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 43 | Los Angeles, CA | $67,204 | $44,000 | 3,976,322 | 118 |
| 44 | Islip, NY | $76,776 | $51,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 45 | Glendale, AZ | $67,217 | $45,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 46 | Oyster Bay, NY | $76,681 | $51,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 47 | Long Beach, CA | $66,702 | $44,000 | 470,130 | 6 |
| 48 | Greensboro, NC | $60,107 | $40,000 | 287,027 | 2 |
| 49 | Dallas, TX | $57,291 | $38,000 | 1,317,929 | 44 |
| 50 | Hempstead, NY | $76,655 | $51,000 | 759,757 | - |
Highest paying cities for cost estimators
| Rank | City | Avg. cost estimator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $87,619 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $87,530 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $80,759 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $76,882 |
| 5 | Hicksville, NY | $76,678 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $71,578 |
| 7 | Rockville, MD | $71,474 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $69,843 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,580 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $67,208 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $64,779 |
| 12 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $62,942 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $62,150 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $60,481 |
| 15 | Newark, DE | $60,268 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $57,675 |
| 17 | Orlando, FL | $54,572 |
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Updated January 8, 2025