How To Become A Printing Estimator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a printing estimator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a printing estimator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $22.39 an hour? That's $46,578 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -2% and produce -4,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScorePrinting EstimatorUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $46,578

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.3

Growth rate -2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 4.40%

Black or African American 2.27%

Hispanic or Latino 14.14%

Unknown 3.82%

White 75.14%

Gender

female 38.28%

male 61.72%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a printing estimator

Explore printing estimator education requirements

Most common printing estimator degrees

Bachelor's

62.5 %

Associate

18.8 %

High School Diploma

10.0 %

Start to develop specific printing estimator skills

Skills	Percentages
Client Specifications	22.59%
Production Process	16.82%
Customer Service	16.78%
Cost Estimates	10.80%
Customer Specifications	10.20%

Complete relevant printing estimator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New printing estimators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a printing estimator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real printing estimator resumes.

Research printing estimator duties and responsibilities

Manage the estimating of a commercial & industrial plumbing and mechanical contracting business.
Coordinate sourcing efforts when need to provide final RFQ.
Obtain measurements, photos and documentation to process remotely Xactimate estimates to submit for insurance and customer approval.
Facilitate all product installation and replacement of equipment; including scheduling electrical, plumbing, roofing, and crane operator subcontractors.

Prepare your printing estimator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your printing estimator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a printing estimator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable printing estimator resume templates

Build a professional printing estimator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your printing estimator resume.