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Production cost estimator salary
Average production cost estimator salary
$46,640
Average Production Cost Estimator Salary
The average salary for a Production Cost Estimator in the United States is approximately $46,640 per year, translating to about $22 per hour. As a vital part of the manufacturing and construction sectors, these professionals are responsible for analyzing project costs and preparing detailed estimates that influence budget decisions.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several factors can affect a production cost estimator's salary:
- Experience Level: Entry-level estimators may start at a lower salary, while those with advanced expertise can earn significantly more.
- Industry: Estimators in specialized fields, such as aerospace or oil and gas, often command higher salaries.
- Geographic Location: Salaries can vary based on the cost of living and demand for estimators in specific regions.
Where to Find Higher Salaries
For those looking to increase their earning potential, consider cities known for higher wages in this field, such as San Francisco or New York. Additionally, exploring opportunities in high-demand industries can provide significant salary boosts.
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Where can a Production Cost Estimator earn more?
Production cost estimator salaries by experience level
Average production cost estimator salary by state
The highest-paying states for production cost estimators are Massachusetts, Vermont, and Alaska. The lowest average production cost estimator salary states are South Carolina, Arkansas, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for production cost estimators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $72,865 | $35.03 |
| 2 | Utah | $57,322 | $27.56 |
| 3 | Oregon | $60,803 | $29.23 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $74,789 | $35.96 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $68,783 | $33.07 |
| 6 | Maine | $55,973 | $26.91 |
| 7 | California | $61,212 | $29.43 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $56,169 | $27.00 |
| 9 | Ohio | $51,896 | $24.95 |
| 10 | Alaska | $71,187 | $34.22 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $53,739 | $25.84 |
| 12 | Illinois | $56,760 | $27.29 |
| 13 | New York | $62,908 | $30.24 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $54,197 | $26.06 |
| 15 | Washington | $56,205 | $27.02 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $64,483 | $31.00 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $59,116 | $28.42 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $52,981 | $25.47 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $57,293 | $27.54 |
| 20 | Michigan | $49,459 | $23.78 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $53,850 | $25.89 |
| 22 | Indiana | $48,110 | $23.13 |
| 23 | Maryland | $58,414 | $28.08 |
| 24 | Montana | $55,243 | $26.56 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $47,389 | $22.78 |
| 26 | Missouri | $50,243 | $24.16 |
| 27 | Idaho | $51,238 | $24.63 |
| 28 | Virginia | $52,708 | $25.34 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $52,293 | $25.14 |
| 30 | Colorado | $51,522 | $24.77 |
| 31 | Kansas | $46,155 | $22.19 |
| 32 | Arizona | $47,151 | $22.67 |
| 33 | Georgia | $47,614 | $22.89 |
| 34 | Iowa | $42,889 | $20.62 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $43,268 | $20.80 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $53,288 | $25.62 |
| 37 | Alabama | $41,784 | $20.09 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $44,528 | $21.41 |
| 39 | Texas | $44,262 | $21.28 |
| 40 | Nevada | $43,260 | $20.80 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $45,989 | $22.11 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $41,369 | $19.89 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $40,800 | $19.62 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $36,218 | $17.41 |
| 45 | Delaware | $45,267 | $21.76 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $43,789 | $21.05 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $40,612 | $19.52 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $39,886 | $19.18 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| 50 | Florida | $36,288 | $17.45 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $37,942 | $18.24 |
Highest paying cities for production cost estimators
The highest-paying cities for production cost estimators are New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, and Frederick, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $62,944 | $30.26 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $60,459 | $29.07 |
| 3 | Frederick, MD | $58,260 | $28.01 |
| 4 | Elk Grove Village, IL | $57,063 | $27.43 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $51,225 | $24.63 |
| 6 | Chamblee, GA | $47,881 | $23.02 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $44,098 | $21.20 |
| 8 | Montgomery, AL | $41,437 | $19.92 |
Production cost estimator salary details
A production cost estimator's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a production cost estimator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $46,640 | $3,887 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying production cost estimator jobs
The highest paying types of production cost estimators are chief estimator, estimating manager, and estimator project manager.
| 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 |
| Engineer/Estimator | $73,392 | $6,116 | $35.28 | 27,140 |
| Estimator | $67,162 | $5,597 | $32.29 | 12,567 |
| Chief Estimator | $98,498 | $8,208 | $47.35 | 24,116 |
| Electrical Estimator | $70,612 | $5,884 | $33.95 | 36,760 |
Top companies hiring production cost estimators now:
Which companies pay production cost estimators the most?
Production cost estimator salaries at Energy Transfer and Toro are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average production cost estimator salary at companies like SJA Industries and Red Wing Shoes are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy Transfer | $52,328 | $25.16 |
| 2 | Toro | $52,166 | $25.08 |
| 3 | SJA Industries | $48,827 | $23.47 |
| 4 | Red Wing Shoes | $44,490 | $21.39 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Production cost estimator salary trends
The average production cost estimator salary has risen by $5,707 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average production cost estimator earned $40,933 annually, but today, they earn $46,640 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for production cost estimators over the last decade.
Compare production cost estimator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average production cost estimator salary over time
Compare production cost estimator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Production cost estimator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,600 | $22.42 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | $45,700 | $21.97 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $44,800 | $21.56 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $44,200 | $21.24 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $43,300 | $20.80 | +2.3% |
Recently added production cost estimator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bauer Welding & Metal Fabricators | Production/Manufacturing Estimator | Mounds View, MN | 06/25/2025 | $72,000 |
| Wabtec Corporation | Production Estimator | Hibbing, MN | 06/19/2025 | $63,000 |
| L&M Radiator | Production Estimator | Hibbing, MN | 06/19/2025 | $63,000 |
| Multi-Color Corp | Production Estimator | Louisville, KY | 06/05/2025 | $50,088 |
| Synerfac | Production Estimator-Packaging/Mfg | Hauppauge, NY | 03/17/2025 | $60,000 |
| Humanhire | Production Estimator | Hauppauge, NY | 03/03/2025 | $80,000 |
| Madison | Production Estimator | Mayville, WI | 02/16/2025 | $50,088 |
| Madison | Production Plant Estimator | Mayville, WI | 01/25/2025 | $50,088 |
| Expresspros-Madison | Production Plant Estimator | Mayville, WI | 01/24/2025 | $50,088 |
| Trotter Workforce | Production Estimator | King of Prussia, PA | 10/22/2024 | $60,000 |
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