Senior estimator vs estimating assistant

The differences between senior estimators and estimating assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a senior estimator and an estimating assistant. Additionally, a senior estimator has an average salary of $73,381, which is higher than the $47,542 average annual salary of an estimating assistant.

The top three skills for a senior estimator include construction management, cost estimates and construction projects. The most important skills for an estimating assistant are cost estimates, bid proposals, and purchase orders.

Senior estimator vs estimating assistant overview

	Senior Estimator	Estimating Assistant
Yearly salary	$73,381	$47,542
Hourly rate	$35.28	$22.86
Growth rate	-2%	-2%
Number of jobs	11,627	18,548
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	2	2

Senior estimator vs estimating assistant salary

Senior estimators and estimating assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Senior Estimator	Estimating Assistant
Average salary	$73,381	$47,542
Salary range	Between $50,000 And $107,000	Between $34,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Anchorage, AK
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Vermont
Best paying company	Amazon	Granite Construction
Best paying industry	Energy	Technology

Differences between senior estimator and estimating assistant education

There are a few differences between a senior estimator and an estimating assistant in terms of educational background:

	Senior Estimator	Estimating Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Senior estimator vs estimating assistant demographics

Here are the differences between senior estimators' and estimating assistants' demographics:

	Senior Estimator	Estimating Assistant
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9%	Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 4.4% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 2.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 4.4% White, 75.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between senior estimator and estimating assistant duties and responsibilities

Senior estimator example responsibilities.

Manage team of quoting specialists and control the overall quotation processes for all RFQ's.
Prepare and present GMP proposals.
Organize and direct plumbing projects.
Create bids for HVAC piping, sheet metal, and plumbing work.
Drive a sales team in the sales of HVAC contracts and equipment.
Distribute RFP's and pertinent project information for all projects to sub contractor and vendors.

Estimating assistant example responsibilities.

Manage the estimating of a commercial & industrial plumbing and mechanical contracting business.
Perform equipment and material takeoff of HVAC blueprint drawings.
Perform typing of letters, RFI's, filing, and certify payroll.
Receive phone calls or email from potential clients who have a RFP (request for proposal).
Prepare all invitations to bids, addendum and RFI's notifications, confirm subcontractors bidding interest and pricing.
Perform civil takeoffs, produce estimates, and create high level schedules that are submitted to clients in response to RFP.

Senior estimator vs estimating assistant skills

Common senior estimator skills

Construction Management, 11%
Cost Estimates, 6%
Construction Projects, 6%
Project Management, 6%
Value Engineering, 5%
Quantity Take-Offs, 4%

Common estimating assistant skills

Cost Estimates, 20%
Bid Proposals, 10%
Purchase Orders, 7%
Worksheets, 7%
Subcontractor Database, 6%
Sub Contractors, 5%

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Senior Estimator vs Estimating Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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