How to hire an engineer/estimator

How to hire an engineer/estimator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step engineer/estimator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an engineer/estimator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new engineer/estimator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an engineer/estimator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the engineer/estimator you need to hire. Certain engineer/estimator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An engineer/estimator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, engineers/estimator from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of engineers/estimator.

   Type of Engineer/Estimator	Description	Hourly rate
   Engineer/Estimator	Cost estimators collect and analyze data in order to estimate the time, money, materials, and labor required to manufacture a product, construct a building, or provide a service. They generally specialize in a particular product or industry.	$23-51
   Estimator Project Manager	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... Show more	$25-49
   Estimating Manager	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... Show more	$29-71

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cost Estimates
   • Project Management
   • Sketch
   • Quantity Take-Offs
   • Construction Drawings
   • GMP
   • Construction Projects
   • Shop Drawings
   • Material Costs
   • Historical Data
   • Bid Packages
   • Asphalt
   • Computer Programs
   • RFQ

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the estimating of a commercial & industrial plumbing and mechanical contracting business.
   • Establish sustained relationships with international customers and domestic suppliers of HVAC equipment.
   • Participate in a team environment engineering and estimating commercial, residential and industrial HVAC projects for new and existing buildings.
   • Prepare proposals for hydroelectric retrofit and rehabilitation projects as well as various other domestic and international projects.

   More engineer/estimator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your engineer/estimator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An engineer/estimator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, engineers/estimator' average salary in alabama is 50% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level engineers/estimator earn 55% less than senior-level engineers/estimator.
   • Certifications. An engineer/estimator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an engineer/estimator's salary.

   Average engineer/estimator salary

   $73,392yearly

   $35.28 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level engineer/estimator salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average engineer/estimator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$99,055	$48
   2	Connecticut	$91,405	$44
   3	Oregon	$88,303	$42
   4	Maryland	$81,807	$39
   5	New York	$81,742	$39
   6	Washington	$81,526	$39
   7	Illinois	$80,038	$38
   8	New Jersey	$79,869	$38
   9	California	$77,072	$37
   10	Ohio	$75,209	$36
   11	Michigan	$69,302	$33
   12	Missouri	$68,648	$33
   13	Kansas	$62,841	$30
   14	Texas	$62,711	$30
   15	Georgia	$60,166	$29
   16	North Carolina	$59,123	$28
   17	Florida	$56,258	$27
   18	Alabama	$49,765	$24

   Average engineer/estimator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$115,148	$55.36	124
   2	Yokogawa Electric Corp.	$95,266	$45.80
   3	FirstEnergy	$90,250	$43.39	10
   4	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$84,422	$40.59	30
   5	Turner Construction	$80,957	$38.92	103
   6	SEKISUI America	$80,813	$38.85	2
   7	PMA Consultants	$79,925	$38.43
   8	JE Dunn Construction	$78,570	$37.77	126
   9	Skanska	$76,053	$36.56	23
   10	Honeywell	$75,796	$36.44	17
   11	Builders FirstSource	$74,647	$35.89	11
   12	Turner International	$74,531	$35.83
   13	Amec Foster Wheeler	$74,475	$35.81
   14	Ataco Steel Products	$74,383	$35.76
   15	e-Tech Solutions	$74,021	$35.59	4
   16	Power Plant Management Services	$73,820	$35.49
   17	Mersino Dewatering	$73,661	$35.41	4
   18	Energy Inc.	$73,347	$35.26
   19	Ohmstede	$73,007	$35.10
   20	MetalTek International	$72,567	$34.89

4. Writing an engineer/estimator job description

   An engineer/estimator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an engineer/estimator job description:

   Engineer/estimator job description example

   Invenergy drives innovation in energy. Powered by decades of entrepreneurial experience and unparalleled execution, we solve the energy challenges facing our customers and communities. We provide power generation and storage solutions at scale around the world to create a cleaner energy future. We develop. We build. We own. We operate. We are Invenergy.
   Job Description
   
   Position Overview
   
   As a Staff Estimator, Renewable Engineering and Project Management, you will provide a wide range of estimating services for Invenergy's growing portfolio of utility scale clean and renewable energy projects located across the United States and internationally. This position is located at our headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.
   
   Responsibilities
   Act as a key member of the Project Management team, develop project procurement and construction costs Analyze historical procurement and construction costs to inform estimating needs Contribute to ongoing revisions of estimating tools and procedures. Collaborate with multiple new business units to organize bid and proposal schedules during initial development phase of company projects. Develop bid proposal materials and participate in pre-bid meetings with clients and contractors Coordinate site investigations in order to identify issues or concerns on projects Collaborate with suppliers and subcontractors.
   Requirements
   Bachelor's degree required, preferably a technical degree such as engineering or construction management technology Background in solar and wind construction and/or development preferred Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities
   Benefits
   
   Eligible for medical, dental, vision, 401(k), bonus, paid time off, etc.
   
   Invenergy believes inclusion drives innovation
   
   Diverse teams are better teams. The perspectives and experiences that people from different backgrounds bring to an organization drive better decisions and improved business results. Invenergy employees are inclusive and welcoming of all colleagues of all backgrounds, genders, races, sexual orientations, religions and abilities.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right engineer/estimator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your engineer/estimator job on Zippia to find and recruit engineer/estimator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting engineers/estimator requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new engineer/estimator

   Once you've found the engineer/estimator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new engineer/estimator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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