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Best states for a cost estimator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a cost estimator and really want to work at VJ Associates, Inc. of Suffolk? Turns out, your chances to become a cost estimator are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for cost estimators. We found that District of Columbia is the best state in the nation for cost estimators, and people in Burlington earn the most in the field.
We figured that the best places for cost estimator jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a cost estimator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for cost estimators in 2025
1. District of Columbia
Total cost estimator jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $87,615 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 2.75
2. Utah
Total cost estimator jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $74,077 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
3. Washington
Total cost estimator jobs: 105 Average annual salary: $80,012 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
4. Alaska
Total cost estimator jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $82,901 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
5. Oregon
Total cost estimator jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $73,820 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
6. Massachusetts
Total cost estimator jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $87,535 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
7. New Hampshire
Total cost estimator jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $78,053 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
8. Vermont
Total cost estimator jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $93,079 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 0.2
9. Michigan
Total cost estimator jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $70,511 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Maryland
Total cost estimator jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $71,623 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
Cost estimator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a cost estimator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a cost estimator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $87,615 | $58,000 | 693,972 | 59 |
| 2 | Utah | $74,077 | $50,000 | 3,101,833 | 58 |
| 3 | Washington | $80,012 | $52,000 | 7,405,743 | 105 |
| 4 | Alaska | $82,901 | $63,000 | 739,795 | 11 |
| 5 | Oregon | $73,820 | $48,000 | 4,142,776 | 67 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $87,535 | $60,000 | 6,859,819 | 93 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $78,053 | $53,000 | 1,342,795 | 18 |
| 8 | Vermont | $93,079 | $64,000 | 623,657 | 2 |
| 9 | Michigan | $70,511 | $47,000 | 9,962,311 | 94 |
| 10 | Maryland | $71,623 | $48,000 | 6,052,177 | 119 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $73,218 | $49,000 | 1,815,857 | 7 |
| 12 | Montana | $70,197 | $47,000 | 1,050,493 | 13 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $69,810 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 115 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $73,093 | $50,000 | 1,059,639 | 9 |
| 15 | New York | $76,489 | $51,000 | 19,849,399 | 120 |
| 16 | Maine | $71,391 | $49,000 | 1,335,907 | 13 |
| 17 | Virginia | $70,341 | $47,000 | 8,470,020 | 126 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $72,886 | $49,000 | 3,588,184 | 36 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $68,280 | $45,000 | 12,805,537 | 141 |
| 20 | Arizona | $67,120 | $45,000 | 7,016,270 | 88 |
| 21 | Colorado | $67,016 | $46,000 | 5,607,154 | 126 |
| 22 | Missouri | $67,018 | $46,000 | 6,113,532 | 80 |
| 23 | California | $69,710 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 446 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $68,570 | $47,000 | 869,666 | 6 |
| 25 | Idaho | $67,470 | $44,000 | 1,716,943 | 16 |
| 26 | Georgia | $62,009 | $41,000 | 10,429,379 | 193 |
| 27 | Indiana | $63,258 | $43,000 | 6,666,818 | 79 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $62,949 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 69 |
| 29 | Ohio | $62,372 | $42,000 | 11,658,609 | 115 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $62,212 | $42,000 | 6,715,984 | 65 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $66,099 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 2 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $62,844 | $46,000 | 1,427,538 | 15 |
| 33 | Illinois | $64,416 | $43,000 | 12,802,023 | 105 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $59,646 | $40,000 | 10,273,419 | 115 |
| 35 | Kansas | $60,917 | $42,000 | 2,913,123 | 28 |
| 36 | Nevada | $58,291 | $38,000 | 2,998,039 | 29 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $57,788 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 58 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $61,152 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 64 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $58,469 | $39,000 | 4,684,333 | 38 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $59,546 | $40,000 | 3,004,279 | 19 |
| 41 | Texas | $57,555 | $38,000 | 28,304,596 | 260 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $56,754 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 11 |
| 43 | Delaware | $60,275 | $40,000 | 961,939 | 12 |
| 44 | Florida | $54,611 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 225 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $60,193 | $41,000 | 2,088,070 | 0 |
| 46 | Alabama | $48,802 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 71 |
| 47 | Iowa | $56,138 | $38,000 | 3,145,711 | 29 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $55,119 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 16 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $53,341 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 13 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $50,182 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 25 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $50,704 | $35,000 | 3,930,864 | 20 |
Highest paying states for cost estimators
| Rank | State | Avg. Cost Estimator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $87,615 |
| 2 | Utah | $74,077 |
| 3 | Washington | $80,012 |
| 4 | Alaska | $82,901 |
| 5 | Oregon | $73,820 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $87,535 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $78,053 |
| 8 | Vermont | $93,079 |
| 9 | Michigan | $70,511 |
| 10 | Maryland | $71,623 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $73,218 |
| 12 | Montana | $70,197 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $69,810 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $73,093 |
| 15 | New York | $76,489 |
| 16 | Maine | $71,391 |
| 17 | Virginia | $70,341 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $72,886 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $68,280 |
| 20 | Arizona | $67,120 |
| 21 | Colorado | $67,016 |
| 22 | Missouri | $67,018 |
| 23 | California | $69,710 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $68,570 |
| 25 | Idaho | $67,470 |
| 26 | Georgia | $62,009 |
| 27 | Indiana | $63,258 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $62,949 |
| 29 | Ohio | $62,372 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $62,212 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $66,099 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $62,844 |
| 33 | Illinois | $64,416 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $59,646 |
| 35 | Kansas | $60,917 |
| 36 | Nevada | $58,291 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $57,788 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $61,152 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $58,469 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $59,546 |
| 41 | Texas | $57,555 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $56,754 |
| 43 | Delaware | $60,275 |
| 44 | Florida | $54,611 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $60,193 |
| 46 | Alabama | $48,802 |
| 47 | Iowa | $56,138 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $55,119 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $53,341 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $50,182 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $50,704 |
Cost estimator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025