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Chief estimator salary
Average chief estimator salary
$98,498
Average Chief Estimator Salary
The Chief Estimator plays a crucial role in managing project costs and ensuring accurate bids in construction. As of October 2025, the average salary for a Chief Estimator is approximately $98,498 annually. This figure reflects a combination of factors including experience level, geographic location, and the specific sector within the construction industry.
Salary by Experience
Entry-level Chief Estimators may start with salaries around $70,000, while those with extensive experience and specialized skills can earn upwards of $120,000. This significant variance underlines the importance of experience and expertise in salary negotiations.
Geographical Considerations
Chief Estimators in states like California and New York tend to earn the highest salaries, often exceeding the national average. In contrast, those in states with lower costs of living may see reduced salaries. Understanding regional salary differences is essential for job seekers looking to maximize their earning potential.
Opportunities for Advancement
For professionals seeking growth, pursuing certifications and gaining experience in diverse projects can lead to higher-paying roles within the industry. Exploring job openings and salary estimates across various regions can provide valuable insights into where opportunities flourish for Chief Estimators.
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Where can a Chief Estimator earn more?
Chief estimator salary estimates from across the web
Average chief estimator salary by state
The highest-paying states for chief estimators are Vermont, California, and Massachusetts. The lowest average chief estimator salary states are Iowa, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chief estimators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $110,502 | $53.13 |
| 2 | Alaska | $108,970 | $52.39 |
| 3 | California | $112,781 | $54.22 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $110,914 | $53.32 |
| 5 | Washington | $102,459 | $49.26 |
| 6 | Virginia | $104,482 | $50.23 |
| 7 | Vermont | $118,183 | $56.82 |
| 8 | Utah | $100,653 | $48.39 |
| 9 | Oregon | $97,030 | $46.65 |
| 10 | Montana | $92,504 | $44.47 |
| 11 | New York | $93,085 | $44.75 |
| 12 | Maine | $90,370 | $43.45 |
| 13 | Nevada | $87,026 | $41.84 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $98,772 | $47.49 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $91,609 | $44.04 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $93,310 | $44.86 |
| 17 | Idaho | $92,017 | $44.24 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $90,878 | $43.69 |
| 19 | Maryland | $90,959 | $43.73 |
| 20 | Arizona | $84,044 | $40.41 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $91,995 | $44.23 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $83,314 | $40.05 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $84,932 | $40.83 |
| 24 | Michigan | $79,531 | $38.24 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $84,822 | $40.78 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $86,067 | $41.38 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $81,104 | $38.99 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $81,517 | $39.19 |
| 29 | Missouri | $84,594 | $40.67 |
| 30 | Indiana | $80,260 | $38.59 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $78,594 | $37.79 |
| 32 | Colorado | $78,004 | $37.50 |
| 33 | Georgia | $77,194 | $37.11 |
| 34 | Delaware | $76,090 | $36.58 |
| 35 | Ohio | $78,885 | $37.93 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $77,639 | $37.33 |
| 37 | Texas | $76,114 | $36.59 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $77,823 | $37.41 |
| 39 | Florida | $76,596 | $36.83 |
| 40 | Illinois | $79,737 | $38.34 |
| 41 | Kansas | $76,383 | $36.72 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $76,896 | $36.97 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $64,759 | $31.13 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $71,600 | $34.42 |
| 45 | Iowa | $70,556 | $33.92 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $71,160 | $34.21 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $74,027 | $35.59 |
| 48 | Alabama | $65,371 | $31.43 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $66,068 | $31.76 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $65,571 | $31.52 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $64,667 | $31.09 |
Highest paying cities for chief estimators
The highest-paying cities for chief estimators are Concord, CA, Lowell, MA, and Sterling, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concord, CA | $124,714 | $59.96 |
| 2 | Lowell, MA | $110,249 | $53.00 |
| 3 | Sterling, VA | $105,298 | $50.62 |
| 4 | Puyallup, WA | $103,133 | $49.58 |
| 5 | West Valley City, UT | $100,146 | $48.15 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $93,284 | $44.85 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $91,137 | $43.82 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $86,203 | $41.44 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $80,139 | $38.53 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $79,924 | $38.42 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $79,836 | $38.38 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | $78,352 | $37.67 |
| 13 | Greer, SC | $77,868 | $37.44 |
| 14 | Tucker, GA | $77,504 | $37.26 |
| 15 | Orlando, FL | $77,159 | $37.10 |
| 16 | Cincinnati, OH | $76,842 | $36.94 |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $75,853 | $36.47 |
Chief estimator salary details
A chief estimator's salary ranges from $67,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $142,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chief estimator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $142,000 | $11,833 | $68 |
| 75th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| Average | $98,498 | $8,208 | $47 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 10th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
Highest paying chief estimator jobs
The highest paying types of chief estimators are estimating manager, estimator project manager, and engineer/estimator.
| 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 |
| Electrical Estimator | $70,612 | $5,884 | $33.95 | 36,760 |
| Construction Estimator | $72,383 | $6,032 | $34.80 | 37,047 |
| Engineer/Estimator | $73,392 | $6,116 | $35.28 | 27,140 |
| Project Estimator | $70,496 | $5,875 | $33.89 | 56,513 |
Top companies hiring chief estimators now:
Which companies pay chief estimators the most?
Chief estimator salaries at Payscale and Parsons are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief estimator salary at companies like Chiyoda International and CyberCoders are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Payscale | $120,369 | $57.87 |
| 2 | Parsons | $119,030 | $57.23 |
| 3 | Chiyoda International | $104,897 | $50.43 |
| 4 | CyberCoders | $103,074 | $49.55 |
| 5 | EMCOR Group | $98,828 | $47.51 |
| 6 | Monster Products | $98,498 | $47.35 |
| 7 | GPAC | $93,433 | $44.92 |
| 8 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $90,288 | $43.41 |
| 9 | Weifield Group Contracting | $89,929 | $43.24 |
| 10 | New York City School Construction Authority | $88,468 | $42.53 |
| 11 | Lafarge North America | $88,136 | $42.37 |
| 12 | LVI Holding Corporation | $88,073 | $42.34 |
| 13 | Clark Construction Group | $87,985 | $42.30 |
| 14 | Holcim | $86,762 | $41.71 |
| 15 | Swinerton | $86,596 | $41.63 |
| 16 | Jobot | $85,855 | $41.28 |
| 17 | PLS | $85,675 | $41.19 |
| 18 | TEAM | $84,952 | $40.84 |
| 19 | Ideal Contracting | $84,800 | $40.77 |
| 20 | Construction Innovations | $84,212 | $40.49 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chief estimator salary trends
The average chief estimator salary has risen by $12,051 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief estimator earned $86,447 annually, but today, they earn $98,498 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for chief estimators over the last decade.
Compare chief estimator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chief estimator salary over time
Compare chief estimator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chief estimator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $98,500 | $47.35 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $96,500 | $46.39 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $94,700 | $45.53 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $93,300 | $44.87 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $91,400 | $43.93 | +2.3% |
Recently added chief estimator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosendin Electric | Chief Estimator | Ione, CA | 06/29/2025 | $144,500 |
| Kiewit | Chief Estimator-Water/Wastewater Construction | Fairfield, CA | 06/27/2025 | $160,000 |
| Actalent | Chief Estimator | Farmingdale, NY | 06/18/2025 | $100,000 |
| Flatiron Construction Corp | Chief Estimator | Framingham, MA | 06/16/2025 | $170,000 |
| Success Matcher | Chief Estimator | Phoenix, AZ | 06/12/2025 | $200,000 |
| Boudreau Pipeline Corporation | Chief Estimator | Corona, CA | 06/10/2025 | $140,000 |
| Clark Construction Group | Chief Estimator | Walnut Creek, CA | 06/09/2025 | $110,000 |
| Rider Levett Bucknall Uk Ltd. | Chief Estimator-Office Lead | Columbia, MD | 06/07/2025 | $119,336 |
| Green Key Resources | Chief Estimator | Fort Myers, FL | 05/29/2025 | $6,000 |
| Metropolitan Transportation Commission | Chief Estimator (DSO) | New York, NY | 05/26/2025 | $150,058 |
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