What does a senior estimator do?
In the construction industry, a senior estimator specializes in estimating the total cost, time, supplies and materials, equipment, and labor required to complete a construction project. To ensure accuracy, a senior estimator coordinates with the client, architect, and engineer to identify and understand project needs, participates in the planning and scheduling procedures, and prepares the necessary documentation. They are also in charge of conducting cost analyses, risk assessments, and selecting subcontractors and suppliers, coordinating with the construction managers and architects regularly.
Senior estimator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior estimator resumes:
- 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.
- Obtain a sketch of the floor plan with dimensions in order to provide a detail estimate for necessary repairs.
- Generate new residential and commercial roofing business through marketing presentations and networking.
- Estimate new and retrofit construction measures for roofing and insulation in both commercial and residential construction.
- Improve RFP processing capabilities by creating templates instrumental in accelerating response times and heightening customer satisfaction levels.
- Perform all aspects of developing definitive detail estimates for upcoming residential and commercial insurance restoration projects utilizing Xactimate.
- Obtain measurements, photos and documentation to process remotely Xactimate estimates to submit for insurance and customer approval.
- Produce RFI's, RFQ's, and submit proposals.
- Estimate full production jobs from given BOM's, drawings and engineering specs.
- Prepare engineering documentation; including BOM's, change orders, parts list.
Senior estimator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Senior Estimators are proficient in Construction Management, Cost Estimates, and Construction Projects. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Senior Estimators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Construction Management, 11%
Handle claims from estimation to construction management.
- Cost Estimates, 6%
Contributed in the development of cost estimates, marketplace pricing studies and financial analysis to develop optimal purchasing and manufacturing strategies.
- Construction Projects, 6%
Estimate construction projects and review subordinate estimates submitted for application.
- Project Management, 6%
Developed client relationships for follow-on project opportunities as well as project management support.
- Value Engineering, 5%
Work with mechanical engineers to address insulation requirements, as well as material substitutions and value engineering.
- Quantity Take-Offs, 4%
Performed detailed quantity take-offs in drywall, paint and insulation utilizing in-house exclusive computer program and excel.
"construction management," "cost estimates," and "construction projects" are among the most common skills that senior estimators use at work. You can find even more senior estimator responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior estimator to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "cost estimators must review and evaluate different construction and manufacturing methods to find cost-effective options." Additionally, a senior estimator resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "provided post-production analysis of job costs to increase accuracy and efficiency of estimates, pricing and total project costs. "
Detail oriented. senior estimators are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to senior estimator responsibilities, because "cost estimators must be precise, because minor changes may greatly affect the overall expense of a project or product." A senior estimator resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "reviewed blueprints to estimate construction jobs* used autocad to draw product details* followed up with general contractors on quoted jobs"
Math skills. A big part of what senior estimators do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to senior estimator responsibilities because "cost estimators need excellent math skills to calculate labor, material, and equipment estimates for construction projects." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior estimator tasks: "staff expert in plan/specification reading and mathematical systems of construction estimating and quantity surveying skills. "
Time-management skills. A commonly-found skill in senior estimator job descriptions, "time-management skills" is essential to what senior estimators do. Senior estimator responsibilities rely on this skill because "cost estimators must plan in advance and work efficiently to meet their deadlines." You can also see how senior estimator duties rely on time-management skills in this resume example: "work with general contractors to deliver a final proposal to the client under tight deadlines. "
The three companies that hire the most senior estimators are:
- CyberCoders62 senior estimators jobs
- System One59 senior estimators jobs
- Management Recruiters International(MRI)57 senior estimators jobs
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Compare different senior estimators
Senior estimator vs. Estimating assistant
An estimator project manager is responsible for analyzing cost estimates by gathering cost information from suppliers and other third-party vendors. An estimator project manager must have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills, especially with measurement accuracy and evaluating important project metrics. Estimator project managers research the general market pricing of materials and labor costs, estimate production times, and follow the project timetable without compromising the quality and the client's specifications. They create estimate reports and risk analyses to discuss with the client and the project team.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior estimator are more likely to require skills like "construction management," "project management," "value engineering," and "design." On the other hand, a job as an estimating assistant requires skills like "purchase orders," "worksheets," "subcontractor database," and "sub contractors." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Estimating assistants really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $56,112. Comparatively, senior estimators tend to make the most money in the energy industry with an average salary of $81,829.The education levels that estimating assistants earn slightly differ from senior estimators. In particular, estimating assistants are 3.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a senior estimator. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior estimator vs. Estimator/project coordinator
Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior estimator resumes. While senior estimator responsibilities can utilize skills like "construction management," "project management," "design," and "work breakdown structure," estimator/project coordinators use skills like "cad," "purchase orders," "sub contractors," and "bid invitations."
Estimator/project coordinators earn a lower average salary than senior estimators. But estimator/project coordinators earn the highest pay in the construction industry, with an average salary of $57,269. Additionally, senior estimators earn the highest salaries in the energy with average pay of $81,829 annually.In general, estimator/project coordinators achieve similar levels of education than senior estimators. They're 3.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior estimator vs. Assistant estimator/project manager
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior estimators are more likely to have skills like "design," "work breakdown structure," "customer service," and "cost data." But a assistant estimator/project manager is more likely to have skills like "purchase orders," "cad," "assist project," and "architectural drawings."
Assistant estimator/project managers earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $69,857. Senior estimators earn the highest pay from the energy industry, with an average salary of $81,829.Most assistant estimator/project managers achieve a similar degree level compared to senior estimators. For example, they're 2.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior estimator vs. Estimator project manager
Types of senior estimator
Updated January 8, 2025
