What does an electrical estimator do?
Electrical estimators are electrical system professionals who are responsible for creating the approximate cost of various electrical installations for both industrial and residential projects. These estimators must analyze blueprints to determine wire lengths as well as the amount and cost of all materials and fixtures needed for their electrical projects. They are required to improve cost-estimating procedures so that they can reduce inconsistencies between the estimated and actual project costs. Electrical estimators must also participate in project biddings by completing and submitting their proposals by following established guidelines.
Electrical estimator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real electrical estimator resumes:
- Manage prevailing wage for payroll and prepare and submit bi-weekly certify payroll reports.
- Design power, lighting, and HVAC plans.
- Slash cost of installation and operations by implementing various MEP systems.
- Collaborate with MEP engineering firm to prepare design-build budgets and estimates for potential clients.
- Design and estimating duties include HVAC, refrigeration, interior and exterior lighting & power distribution.
- Utilize AutoCAD for electrical drafting, riser diagrams, wiring diagrams, and single line diagrams.
- Prepare RFI's, change order estimates, proposals, and provide any other assistance require throughout these projects.
- Utilize AutoCAD to complete electrical lighting designs.
- Obtain measurements, photos and documentation to process remotely Xactimate estimates to submit for insurance and customer approval.
- Perform OSHA safety training for new employees.
- Complete complex electrical industrial controls design to include PLC's, VFD's, and HMI.
- Check fabrication/installation packages and Allen-Bradley PLC programs.
- Procure LEED specifications on various products to ensure compliance with customer preferences including reclaim material.
Electrical estimator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Electrical Estimators are proficient in Project Management, Quantity Take-Offs, and Electrical Systems. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Electrical Estimators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 8%
Project Management, scheduling job assignments, making site visits and identifying opportunities for improvement and invoking the modifications.
- Quantity Take-Offs, 5%
Prepared quantity take-off and bill of materials and interim payment for each project.
- Electrical Systems, 5%
Provide customers with project drawings for new electrical systems as required.
- Value Engineering, 5%
Participated in reviewing and analyzing cost estimates prepared by other consultants and performed cost variance reconciliations & value engineering.
- Electrical Projects, 4%
Prepared Electrical estimates for industrial and residential electrical projects from bid packages and/or site inspections.
- Cost Control, 4%
Provide conceptual estimates for cost control of an ongoing project.
Common skills that an electrical estimator uses to do their job include "project management," "quantity take-offs," and "electrical systems." You can find details on the most important electrical estimator responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for an electrical estimator to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "cost estimators must review and evaluate different construction and manufacturing methods to find cost-effective options." Additionally, an electrical estimator resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "assisted in all areas of administrative work including data entry, receptionist duties, file organization, research and development. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for electrical estimators to perform their duties. For an example of how electrical estimator responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "cost estimators must be precise, because minor changes may greatly affect the overall expense of a project or product." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an electrical estimator: "prepared material take-offs and budget and detailed electrical and instrumentation estimates for doe work at hanford, wa. ".
Math skills. For certain electrical estimator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of an electrical estimator rely on this skill, as "cost estimators need excellent math skills to calculate labor, material, and equipment estimates for construction projects." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what electrical estimators do: "use of simple math adding, subtraction, multiplication, and division. "
Time-management skills. Another crucial skill for an electrical estimator to carry out their responsibilities is "time-management skills." A big part of what electrical estimators relies on this skill, since "cost estimators must plan in advance and work efficiently to meet their deadlines." How this skill relates to electrical estimator duties can be seen in an example from an electrical estimator resume snippet: "coordinate with electrical equipment vendors to support deadlines for commercial and industrial project estimates/bids. "
The three companies that hire the most electrical estimators are:
- GPAC87 electrical estimators jobs
- CyberCoders15 electrical estimators jobs
- Cumming Corporation11 electrical estimators jobs
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Compare different electrical estimators
Electrical estimator vs. Estimating assistant
An estimator project manager is responsible for analyzing cost estimates by gathering cost information from suppliers and other third-party vendors. An estimator project manager must have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills, especially with measurement accuracy and evaluating important project metrics. Estimator project managers research the general market pricing of materials and labor costs, estimate production times, and follow the project timetable without compromising the quality and the client's specifications. They create estimate reports and risk analyses to discuss with the client and the project team.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between electrical estimators and estimating assistant. For instance, electrical estimator responsibilities require skills such as "project management," "electrical systems," "value engineering," and "electrical projects." Whereas a estimating assistant is skilled in "worksheets," "subcontractor database," "sub contractors," and "cad." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Estimating assistants tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $56,112. In contrast, electrical estimators make the biggest average salary, $86,536, in the energy industry.On average, estimating assistants reach similar levels of education than electrical estimators. Estimating assistants are 4.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Electrical estimator vs. Estimator/project coordinator
An estimating manager will oversee the day-to-day activities of the estimating department. Your duties typically include implementing technical estimating procedures and standards and overseeing the project estimator's work. As an estimating manager, you will be responsible for soliciting proposals and bids for labor, equipment, and material from different suppliers. Aside from these, you will be the one responsible for coordinating bid inputs from other departments. You are also responsible for reviewing and evaluating the performance of junior and senior estimators.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, electrical estimator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "project management," "electrical systems," "electrical projects," and "cost control." Meanwhile, an estimator/project coordinator has duties that require skills in areas such as "shop drawings," "cad," "project scope," and "sub contractors." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Estimator/project coordinators earn a lower average salary than electrical estimators. But estimator/project coordinators earn the highest pay in the construction industry, with an average salary of $57,269. Additionally, electrical estimators earn the highest salaries in the energy with average pay of $86,536 annually.In general, estimator/project coordinators achieve similar levels of education than electrical estimators. They're 3.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Electrical estimator vs. Estimator project manager
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an electrical estimator is likely to be skilled in "project management," "electrical systems," "voltage systems," and "proposal specifications," while a typical estimator project manager is skilled in "sub contractors," "construction management," "project scope," and "cad."
Estimator project managers earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $77,488. Comparatively, electrical estimators have the highest earning potential in the energy industry, with an average salary of $86,536.Most estimator project managers achieve a similar degree level compared to electrical estimators. For example, they're 2.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Electrical estimator vs. Estimating manager
Types of electrical estimator
Updated January 8, 2025
