How to hire an estimator

How to hire an estimator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step 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 estimator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new estimator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an estimator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your estimator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an estimator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An estimator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, estimators 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 estimators.

   Type of Estimator	Description	Hourly rate
   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.	$22-46
   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
   Construction Estimator	A construction estimator is responsible for determining project requirements, estimating metrics, including cost-analysis procedures and area inspection to spot potential inconsistencies, mitigate risks, and address production gaps. Construction estimators work closely with the engineers to identify construction requirements and specifications for forecasting... Show more	$24-50

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Cost Estimates
   • Project Management
   • Repair Process
   • Work Ethic
   • Construction Projects
   • Quantity Take-Offs
   • General Contractors
   • HVAC
   • Plumbing
   • Math
   • CCC
   • CAD
   • Value Engineering

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve and maintain high CSI ratings measure by an independent consumer rating firm.
   • Manage prevailing wage for payroll and prepare and submit bi-weekly certify payroll reports.
   • Manage the estimating of a commercial & industrial plumbing and mechanical contracting business.
   • Facilitate all product installation and replacement of equipment; including scheduling electrical, plumbing, roofing, and crane operator subcontractors.
   • Review and modify drawings in AutoCad.
   • Coordinate with MEP consultants during the project.

   More estimator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the estimator job description is a good way to get more applicants. An estimator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an estimator in Florida may be lower than in Vermont, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level estimator. Additionally, an estimator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average estimator salary

   $67,162yearly

   $32.29 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level estimator salary

   $46,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average estimator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$84,842	$41
   2	California	$83,524	$40
   3	Massachusetts	$80,635	$39
   4	Mississippi	$76,039	$37
   5	New York	$74,119	$36
   6	New Jersey	$72,604	$35
   7	Washington	$71,749	$34
   8	Maryland	$71,105	$34
   9	Maine	$69,329	$33
   10	Virginia	$68,799	$33
   11	Pennsylvania	$66,216	$32
   12	Nevada	$65,662	$32
   13	Colorado	$65,638	$32
   14	Illinois	$65,181	$31
   15	Arizona	$63,775	$31
   16	Minnesota	$62,709	$30
   17	Oregon	$62,189	$30
   18	North Carolina	$61,980	$30
   19	Texas	$60,758	$29
   20	Indiana	$60,379	$29

   Average estimator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	BlackRock	$107,852	$51.85
   2	NRG Energy	$97,677	$46.96
   3	MPS Horticulture	$97,229	$46.74
   4	Douglas Emmett, Inc.	$95,189	$45.76	1
   5	Jordan Ford	$94,013	$45.20
   6	Intel	$93,642	$45.02
   7	Gordon Brothers	$93,203	$44.81
   8	Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory	$91,115	$43.81
   9	Nucor	$89,744	$43.15	9
   10	Tesla	$89,547	$43.05	20
   11	American Residential Services	$88,216	$42.41
   12	Fairpoint Communications	$86,086	$41.39
   13	Asbury Automotive Group	$86,048	$41.37	6
   14	Carter Lumber	$85,857	$41.28	15
   15	Lennar	$83,180	$39.99	1
   16	Foley Products	$82,366	$39.60
   17	Siemens	$80,501	$38.70	6
   18	Rosendin Electric	$80,314	$38.61	10
   19	Ducommun	$80,018	$38.47	1
   20	Gilbane Building Company	$79,759	$38.35	27

4. Writing an estimator job description

   An 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. Below, you can find an example of an estimator job description:

   Estimator job description example

   The Estimator position is responsible for residential and commercial takeoffs for both installed and material projects. This incumbent reviews plans and specifications relative to the schedule and scope of work, and works closely with salespeople to coordinate construction projects and paperwork. Estimators will: Read blueprints Utilize computer for blueprint takeoffs Communicate with professional builders Communicate with salesmen The Estimator position is responsible for residential and commercial takeoffs for both installed and material projects. This incumbent reviews plans and specifications relative to the schedule and scope of work, and works closely with salespeople to coordinate construction projects and paperwork. Estimators will: Read blueprints Utilize computer for blueprint takeoffs Communicate with professional builders Communicate with salesmen
   Required Skills
   
   Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and government regulations; write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals; effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.Required Experience
   
   Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, or at least 2 years of specific experience and/or training related to the essential functions of the job; or equivalent combination of education and training. Ability to read blueprints and perform material takeoffs/ estimates. Computer skills necessary for blueprint takeoffs.Required Qualifications
   
   Associate's Degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school; or 6 months to 1 year of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
   
   Ability to use architectural technology to read blueprints and perform material takeoffs.
   
   Computer skills: On-Screen takeoff software, Microsoft Office Suite, Intermediate Excel skills.
   
   Intermediate knowledge of building codes, UL assembly, wood framing process preferred.
   
   Experience using Square Takeoff preferred.
   
   Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and government regulations; write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals; effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.
   
   Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right 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 estimator job on Zippia to find and recruit estimator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting estimators 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 estimator

   Once you've found the 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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How much does it cost to hire an estimator?