How to hire a senior cost engineer

How to hire a senior cost engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior cost engineer hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a senior cost engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a senior cost engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a senior cost engineer that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of senior cost engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Senior Cost Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Cost Engineer	Industrial engineers find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes. They devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.	$28-58
   Manufacturing Engineering Internship	A manufacturing engineering intern is responsible for assisting the manufacturing engineers on the plant's daily operations, analyzing the manufacturing process and procedures, and recommending strategic solutions to maximize productivity and minimize costs. Manufacturing engineering interns shadow the production staff, inspect the tools and equipment of the manufacturing, analyze the quality control documentation, and perform related administrative tasks to familiarize themselves with the plant structure... Show more	$19-32
   Controls Project Manager	A Controls Project Manager supervises the project control of engineering and construction projects. They are responsible for estimating costs, monitoring work progress, and quality assurance.	$37-79

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cost Engineering
   • Construction Management
   • Cost Analysis
   • Cost Models
   • Cost Estimates
   • Project Controls
   • Cost Data
   • Product Cost
   • DOD
   • Construction Cost
   • Cost Savings
   • Construction Projects
   • Project Cost
   • Contract Negotiations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage retrofit projects for progressive stamping equipment.
   • Develop database to enable constant efficient update and improvement of WBS structure base on addition and deletion of project scope.
   • Provide WBS and integrate cost accounts with organizational structures.
   • Create logistic models to identify optimal international logistics to increase profitability with improve service to customers.
   • Develop and maintain documentation repository base in SharePoint.

   More senior cost engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, senior cost engineers' average salary in hawaii is 37% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior cost engineers earn 50% less than senior-level senior cost engineers.
   • Certifications. A senior cost engineer 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 a senior cost engineer's salary.

   Average senior cost engineer salary

   $86,004yearly

   $41.35 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior cost engineer salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average senior cost engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$108,216	$52
   2	Washington	$98,801	$48
   3	New York	$95,500	$46
   4	Virginia	$91,923	$44
   5	Colorado	$88,725	$43
   6	Michigan	$88,593	$43
   7	Texas	$85,554	$41
   8	Arizona	$83,861	$40
   9	Utah	$83,754	$40
   10	Oregon	$82,916	$40
   11	Louisiana	$81,552	$39
   12	Tennessee	$79,009	$38
   13	Ohio	$77,853	$37
   14	Indiana	$73,892	$36
   15	Kansas	$73,843	$36
   16	Wisconsin	$70,704	$34

   Average senior cost engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Nike	$116,139	$55.84
   2	General Motors	$104,110	$50.05	18
   3	Turner & Townsend	$97,412	$46.83	19
   4	Capco	$95,529	$45.93
   5	Rivian	$95,006	$45.68	3
   6	Lucid Motors	$94,943	$45.65	26
   7	Lear	$93,852	$45.12	14
   8	Faithful+Gould	$93,364	$44.89
   9	National Aerospace Solutions	$88,104	$42.36
   10	Northrop Grumman	$86,909	$41.78	46
   11	Bechtel Corporation	$85,536	$41.12	34
   12	Altair	$84,781	$40.76	3
   13	PMA Consultants	$84,064	$40.42	3
   14	Moss Adams	$82,556	$39.69
   15	Matthews International	$79,990	$38.46	1
   16	Generac Holdings	$79,651	$38.29	4
   17	KBR	$75,348	$36.23	15
   18	E2 Consulting Engineers, Inc.	$74,637	$35.88	1
   19	Pcm Services	$73,231	$35.21
   20	Goodwin Recruiting	$72,981	$35.09

4. Writing a senior cost engineer job description

   A good senior cost engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a senior cost engineer job description:

   Senior cost engineer job description example

   We challenge what is accepted, so we can shape innovative and lasting solutions for tomorrow.If you're interested in a long and rewarding career working with the #1 ranked most admired engineering / construction company in the world, then Jacobs is where you belong. We are looking for a driven and progressive
   Sr . Cost Engineer in Englewood, CO, to support our Program Management Team within a natural gas plant.
   
   As a key member of our Project Controls Team, you'll provide the day-to-day support and follow through of project controls functions for projects and programs.You will be responsible for controls activities at the project level, including Cost, and Document Management. You'll utilize your expertise to develop, monitor, track, analyze, forecast, and advise Project Team on project budgets, estimates to complete, commitments and expenditures, project progress and productivity, work plans and schedules, projects cost implications, project cost at completion, WBS cost coding, subcontracts, and change management.We will rely on you to identify areas of risk through interpretation of controls information.
   
   Join us and we will assist in continuing the development of your skills and exploring all that you can do across our global company, with opportunities to share your knowledge along the way.
   
   At Jacobs, we're partnering across the globe to create the best project outcomes by maximizing the design, digital technology, and support capabilities of our Global Integrated Delivery (GID) teammates. By joining Jacobs, you'll commit to supporting and engaging with these teams, as we work to build a company like no other.
   
   BS in Engineering, Architecture, or Construction Management 10+ years of related experience Proven experience using the most current project management software programs Must be able to create effective presentations using Powerpoint and present them to the senior operations management and clients. Must have excellent understanding of change management process, risk management, cost forecasting, scheduling principals, and estimating processes.
   Ideally, here's what you'll also have:
   Proven experience in both engineering/design and underground utilities type projects as well as with Primavera and earned value performance measurement systems Experience with SAP Experience with Unifier
   Typical salary range for this position is $116,000 to $181,500 and is commensurate with experience relative to the position.
   
   #WestPMCM

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find senior cost engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any senior cost engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level senior cost engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit senior cost engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 senior cost engineer

   Once you've found the senior cost engineer 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new senior cost engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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