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Cost estimator salary
Average cost estimator salary
$69,727
Understanding Cost Estimator Salaries
The average cost estimator salary in the United States is approximately $69,727 annually, translating to about $34 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, cost estimators in high-demand sectors or regions with a higher cost of living tend to earn more.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level cost estimators might start at salaries around $50,000, while those with significant experience can earn upwards of $85,000 annually. The potential for salary growth is substantial as professionals gain expertise and take on more complex projects.
Top Paying States
States like California and New York frequently offer higher salaries due to the concentration of industries that rely on cost estimation. Understanding these dynamics can help job seekers target effective locations for their career.
Conclusion
For those considering a path in cost estimating, researching salary structures and growth opportunities is vital. This knowledge empowers individuals to negotiate better compensation and plan for career advancement.
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Where can a Cost Estimator earn more?
Cost estimator salaries by experience level
Cost estimator salary estimates from across the web
Average cost estimator salary by state
The highest-paying states for cost estimators are Vermont, Massachusetts, and Alaska. The lowest average cost estimator salary states are Mississippi, Florida, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cost estimators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $87,615 | $42.12 |
| 2 | Utah | $74,077 | $35.61 |
| 3 | Washington | $80,012 | $38.47 |
| 4 | Alaska | $82,901 | $39.86 |
| 5 | Oregon | $73,820 | $35.49 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $87,535 | $42.08 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $78,053 | $37.53 |
| 8 | Vermont | $93,079 | $44.75 |
| 9 | Michigan | $70,511 | $33.90 |
| 10 | Maryland | $71,623 | $34.43 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $73,218 | $35.20 |
| 12 | Montana | $70,197 | $33.75 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $73,093 | $35.14 |
| 15 | New York | $76,489 | $36.77 |
| 16 | Maine | $71,391 | $34.32 |
| 17 | Virginia | $70,341 | $33.82 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $72,886 | $35.04 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $68,280 | $32.83 |
| 20 | Arizona | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| 21 | Colorado | $67,016 | $32.22 |
| 22 | Missouri | $67,018 | $32.22 |
| 23 | California | $69,710 | $33.51 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $68,570 | $32.97 |
| 25 | Idaho | $67,470 | $32.44 |
| 26 | Georgia | $62,009 | $29.81 |
| 27 | Indiana | $63,258 | $30.41 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $62,949 | $30.26 |
| 29 | Ohio | $62,372 | $29.99 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $62,212 | $29.91 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $66,099 | $31.78 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $62,844 | $30.21 |
| 33 | Illinois | $64,416 | $30.97 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $59,646 | $28.68 |
| 35 | Kansas | $60,917 | $29.29 |
| 36 | Nevada | $58,291 | $28.02 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $57,788 | $27.78 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $61,152 | $29.40 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $58,469 | $28.11 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $59,546 | $28.63 |
| 41 | Texas | $57,555 | $27.67 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $56,754 | $27.29 |
| 43 | Delaware | $60,275 | $28.98 |
| 44 | Florida | $54,611 | $26.26 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $60,193 | $28.94 |
| 46 | Alabama | $48,802 | $23.46 |
| 47 | Iowa | $56,138 | $26.99 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $55,119 | $26.50 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $53,341 | $25.64 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $50,182 | $24.13 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $50,704 | $24.38 |
Highest paying cities for cost estimators
The highest-paying cities for cost estimators are Washington, DC, Boston, MA, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $87,619 | $42.12 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $87,530 | $42.08 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $80,759 | $38.83 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $76,882 | $36.96 |
| 5 | Hicksville, NY | $76,678 | $36.86 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $71,578 | $34.41 |
| 7 | Rockville, MD | $71,474 | $34.36 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $69,843 | $33.58 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,580 | $32.97 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $67,208 | $32.31 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $64,779 | $31.14 |
| 12 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $62,942 | $30.26 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $60,481 | $29.08 |
| 15 | Newark, DE | $60,268 | $28.98 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $57,675 | $27.73 |
| 17 | Orlando, FL | $54,572 | $26.24 |
Cost estimator salary details
A cost estimator's salary ranges from $47,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $102,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cost estimator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| Average | $69,727 | $5,811 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
Highest paying cost estimator jobs
The highest paying types of cost estimators are chief estimator, estimating manager, and estimator project manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimator Project Manager | $73,546 | $6,129 | $35.36 | 112,100 |
| Estimating Manager | $95,887 | $7,991 | $46.10 | 11,106 |
| Engineer/Estimator | $73,392 | $6,116 | $35.28 | 27,140 |
| Electrical Estimator | $70,612 | $5,884 | $33.95 | 36,760 |
| Chief Estimator | $98,498 | $8,208 | $47.35 | 24,116 |
| Project Estimator | $70,496 | $5,875 | $33.89 | 56,513 |
Top companies hiring cost estimators now:
Which companies pay cost estimators the most?
Cost estimator salaries at Meta and Amazon are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cost estimator salary at companies like Jordan Company and Williams Sonoma are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $128,034 | $61.55 |
| 2 | Amazon | $122,189 | $58.74 |
| 3 | Jordan Company | $120,614 | $57.99 |
| 4 | Williams Sonoma | $116,415 | $55.97 |
| 5 | Microsoft | $112,288 | $53.98 |
| 6 | Koch Industries | $112,262 | $53.97 |
| 7 | Cargill | $111,482 | $53.60 |
| 8 | Riverstone Holdings | $105,863 | $50.90 |
| 9 | Gordon Brothers | $104,364 | $50.17 |
| 10 | JK Realty | $101,996 | $49.04 |
| 11 | ConocoPhillips | $100,587 | $48.36 |
| 12 | Guidehouse | $96,618 | $46.45 |
| 13 | Magna International | $93,883 | $45.14 |
| 14 | Meijer | $92,253 | $44.35 |
| 15 | General Atomics | $91,705 | $44.09 |
| 16 | QuantumScape | $91,058 | $43.78 |
| 17 | Alstom | $91,031 | $43.76 |
| 18 | Versus Systems | $90,240 | $43.38 |
| 19 | Honda Lock | $87,573 | $42.10 |
| 20 | Rolls-Royce | $86,653 | $41.66 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cost Estimator salary by industry
The average cost estimator salary varies across industries:
- The average cost estimator salary in the manufacturing industry is $74,597, the highest of any industry.
- The average cost estimator salary in the finance industry is $74,425.
- Cost estimators in the construction industry earn an average salary of $68,992, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for cost estimators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $74,597 | $35.86 |
| 2 | Technology | $74,425 | $35.78 |
| 3 | Automotive | $74,152 | $35.65 |
| 4 | Professional | $71,314 | $34.29 |
| 5 | Transportation | $69,393 | $33.36 |
| 6 | Telecommunication | $69,343 | $33.34 |
| 7 | Construction | $68,992 | $33.17 |
High paying cost estimator jobs
Cost estimator salary trends
The average cost estimator salary has risen by $8,532 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cost estimator earned $61,195 annually, but today, they earn $69,727 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for cost estimators over the last decade.
Compare cost estimator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cost estimator salary over time
Compare cost estimator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cost estimator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $69,700 | $33.52 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $68,300 | $32.84 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $67,000 | $32.23 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $66,100 | $31.76 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $64,700 | $31.10 | +2.3% |
Recently added cost estimator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomenergy | Construction Project Cost Estimator | San Jose, CA | 06/30/2025 | $151,700 |
| Aerotek | Cost Estimator | Middlefield, OH | 06/28/2025 | $54,262 |
| Georgia-Pacific | Cost Estimator | Wichita, KS | 06/28/2025 | $125,000 |
| Georgia-Pacific | Cost Estimator | Green Bay, WI | 06/28/2025 | $125,000 |
| Georgia-Pacific | Cost Estimator | Atlanta, GA | 06/28/2025 | $125,000 |
| HNTB Corporation | Cost Estimator II | Louisville, KY | 06/28/2025 | $79,356 |
| HNTB Corporation | Cost Estimator II | Columbus, OH | 06/28/2025 | $79,356 |
| LMI | Cost Estimator/Analyst | Washington, DC | 06/27/2025 | $90,000 |
| Ttm Technologies | Senior Cost Estimator | Farmingdale, NY | 06/27/2025 | $83,883 |
| Logistics Management Institute | Cost Estimator/Analyst | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $90,000 |
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