13 Series · SOC 13-1051
Cost Estimators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $78,740
- Median / year
- $130,820
- Top 10% earn
- -4.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 224,220
- US workers
Cost Estimators earn a median of $78,740 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $78,740, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $48,530 (10th percentile) to $130,820 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 224,220 US workers. Massachusetts pays the most ($100,840), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Cost Estimators earn a median of $78,740, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 72% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Business and Financial Operations, it ranks #18 of 32 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 4.2% by 2033.
- $78,740
- Median annual wage
- Top 28%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #18 of 32
- in Business and Financial Operations
- 2.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Massachusetts at $100,840. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Cost Estimators (SOC 13-1051) pays a national median of $78,740 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $48,530 at the 10th percentile to $130,820 at the 90th, with a mean of $85,390 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 224,220 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 509 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -4.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 16,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.3 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Massachusetts pays the highest state median at $100,840, which is +28% above the national figure. The top metro is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $102,640 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 224,220 jobs Median $78,740/yr
Median Salary
$78,740
per year
Median Hourly
$37.86/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$85,390
average
Employment
224,220
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Cost Estimators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$78,740 Top 28% higher than 72% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 13-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Cost Estimators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 13-series occupations with growth data, Cost Estimators sits on the slower-growing side at -4.2% growth and $78,740 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-4.2%
Declining
Annual Openings
16,900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.3/100K
Injury Rate
0.3/100
Danger Index
1.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Cost Estimators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Reading Comprehension 4.0
Mathematics 4.0
Speaking 3.9
Active Listening 3.8
Critical Thinking 3.8
Judgment and Decision Making 3.6
Writing 3.5
Complex Problem Solving 3.4
Active Learning 3.3
Social Perceptiveness 3.1
Knowledge Areas
Mathematics 4.4
Economics and Accounting 4.0
Computers and Electronics 3.5
Engineering and Technology 3.4
Building and Construction 3.3
Administration and Management 3.2
English Language 3.2
Design 3.1
Customer and Personal Service 3.0
Mechanical 2.9
Key Tasks
- ▸ Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
- ▸ Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
- ▸ Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
- ▸ Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
- ▸ Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
- ▸ Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.
- ▸ Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
- ▸ Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
- ▸ Set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures.
- ▸ Review material and labor requirements to decide whether it is more cost-effective to produce or purchase components.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$48,530
25th Percentile
$61,150
Median
$78,740
75th Percentile
$101,850
90th Percentile
$130,820
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $100,840 | +28% above national |
| 2 | Alaska | $97,020 | +23% above national |
| 3 | Wyoming | $90,790 | +15% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $86,940 | +10% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $86,070 | +9% above national |
| 6 | California | $85,460 | +9% above national |
| 7 | Illinois | $82,750 | +5% above national |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $82,730 | +5% above national |
| 9 | Nevada | $82,200 | +4% above national |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $81,990 | +4% above national |
| 11 | Vermont | $81,390 | +3% above national |
| 12 | Maryland | $81,190 | +3% above national |
| 13 | Connecticut | $81,030 | +3% above national |
| 14 | Minnesota | $80,810 | +3% above national |
| 15 | New Jersey | $80,570 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Virginia | $80,530 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Oregon | $80,460 | +2% above national |
| 18 | New York | $80,430 | +2% above national |
| 19 | Hawaii | $80,360 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Idaho | $79,700 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Utah | $79,610 | +1% above national |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $79,560 | +1% above national |
| 23 | Delaware | $79,290 | +1% above national |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $78,480 | same as national |
| 25 | Michigan | $77,990 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Ohio | $77,730 | 1% below national |
| 27 | West Virginia | $77,480 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Montana | $77,320 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Louisiana | $77,030 | 2% below national |
| 30 | Arizona | $77,010 | 2% below national |
| 31 | Texas | $76,980 | 2% below national |
| 32 | Georgia | $76,800 | 2% below national |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $76,270 | 3% below national |
| 34 | Kansas | $76,250 | 3% below national |
| 35 | Iowa | $76,040 | 3% below national |
| 36 | Missouri | $76,020 | 3% below national |
| 37 | Tennessee | $75,650 | 4% below national |
| 38 | Alabama | $74,990 | 5% below national |
| 39 | Florida | $74,990 | 5% below national |
| 40 | South Dakota | $74,950 | 5% below national |
| 41 | Kentucky | $74,880 | 5% below national |
| 42 | North Carolina | $74,730 | 5% below national |
| 43 | Maine | $74,080 | 6% below national |
| 44 | Indiana | $73,430 | 7% below national |
| 45 | North Dakota | $73,280 | 7% below national |
| 46 | Nebraska | $73,100 | 7% below national |
| 47 | Mississippi | $71,230 | 10% below national |
| 48 | South Carolina | $70,260 | 11% below national |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $67,800 | 14% below national |
| 50 | New Mexico | $67,590 | 14% below national |
| 51 | Guam | $63,350 | 20% below national |
| 52 | Arkansas | $61,470 | 22% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $47,130 | 40% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 509 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $102,640 | +30% above national |
| 2 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $101,780 | +29% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $101,630 | +29% above national |
| 4 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $100,410 | +28% above national |
| 5 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $99,370 | +26% above national |
| 6 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $98,330 | +25% above national |
| 7 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,580 | +24% above national |
| 8 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $95,650 | +21% above national |
| 9 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $95,060 | +21% above national |
| 10 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $94,490 | +20% above national |
| 11 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $92,600 | +18% above national |
| 12 | Worcester, MA | $92,570 | +18% above national |
| 13 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $89,820 | +14% above national |
| 14 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $89,540 | +14% above national |
| 15 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $89,330 | +13% above national |
| 16 | Pittsfield, MA | $88,080 | +12% above national |
| 17 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $87,720 | +11% above national |
| 18 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $87,670 | +11% above national |
| 19 | Greeley, CO | $87,350 | +11% above national |
| 20 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $87,170 | +11% above national |
| 21 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $87,150 | +11% above national |
| 22 | Springfield, MA | $86,730 | +10% above national |
| 23 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $86,250 | +10% above national |
| 24 | Napa, CA | $86,240 | +10% above national |
| 25 | Bozeman, MT | $85,820 | +9% above national |
| 26 | Casper, WY | $84,990 | +8% above national |
| 27 | Colorado Springs, CO | $84,990 | +8% above national |
| 28 | Vallejo, CA | $84,830 | +8% above national |
| 29 | Baton Rouge, LA | $84,710 | +8% above national |
| 30 | Pueblo, CO | $84,580 | +7% above national |
| 31 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $84,430 | +7% above national |
| 32 | Fresno, CA | $84,140 | +7% above national |
| 33 | Cheyenne, WY | $83,870 | +7% above national |
| 34 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $83,800 | +6% above national |
| 35 | Helena, MT | $83,760 | +6% above national |
| 36 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $83,640 | +6% above national |
| 37 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $83,560 | +6% above national |
| 38 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $83,280 | +6% above national |
| 39 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $83,190 | +6% above national |
| 40 | Bellingham, WA | $83,130 | +6% above national |
| 41 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $83,010 | +5% above national |
| 42 | Dubuque, IA | $82,940 | +5% above national |
| 43 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $82,870 | +5% above national |
| 44 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $82,800 | +5% above national |
| 45 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $82,730 | +5% above national |
| 46 | Paducah, KY-IL | $82,610 | +5% above national |
| 47 | Midland, TX | $82,540 | +5% above national |
| 48 | Vineland, NJ | $82,540 | +5% above national |
| 49 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $82,440 | +5% above national |
| 50 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $82,390 | +5% above national |
| 51 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $82,380 | +5% above national |
| 52 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $82,290 | +5% above national |
| 53 | Reno, NV | $82,270 | +4% above national |
| 54 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,260 | +4% above national |
| 55 | Springfield, IL | $82,230 | +4% above national |
| 56 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $82,110 | +4% above national |
| 57 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $82,110 | +4% above national |
| 58 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $81,710 | +4% above national |
| 59 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $81,540 | +4% above national |
| 60 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $81,540 | +4% above national |
| 61 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $81,380 | +3% above national |
| 62 | Modesto, CA | $81,330 | +3% above national |
| 63 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $81,300 | +3% above national |
| 64 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $81,290 | +3% above national |
| 65 | Lexington Park, MD | $81,210 | +3% above national |
| 66 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $81,200 | +3% above national |
| 67 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $81,170 | +3% above national |
| 68 | Chico, CA | $81,140 | +3% above national |
| 69 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $81,120 | +3% above national |
| 70 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $81,100 | +3% above national |
| 71 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $80,850 | +3% above national |
| 72 | Columbus, IN | $80,800 | +3% above national |
| 73 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $80,800 | +3% above national |
| 74 | Ogden, UT | $80,760 | +3% above national |
| 75 | Bloomington, IL | $80,590 | +2% above national |
| 76 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $80,560 | +2% above national |
| 77 | Ann Arbor, MI | $80,550 | +2% above national |
| 78 | Salinas, CA | $80,210 | +2% above national |
| 79 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $80,200 | +2% above national |
| 80 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $80,170 | +2% above national |
| 81 | York-Hanover, PA | $80,170 | +2% above national |
| 82 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $80,130 | +2% above national |
| 83 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $80,100 | +2% above national |
| 84 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $80,090 | +2% above national |
| 85 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $80,020 | +2% above national |
| 86 | Columbus, OH | $79,990 | +2% above national |
| 87 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $79,880 | +1% above national |
| 88 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $79,850 | +1% above national |
| 89 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $79,850 | +1% above national |
| 90 | Odessa, TX | $79,760 | +1% above national |
| 91 | Boise City, ID | $79,700 | +1% above national |
| 92 | Corpus Christi, TX | $79,550 | +1% above national |
| 93 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $79,360 | +1% above national |
| 94 | Birmingham, AL | $79,330 | +1% above national |
| 95 | Charleston, WV | $79,300 | +1% above national |
| 96 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $79,290 | +1% above national |
| 97 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $79,270 | +1% above national |
| 98 | Decatur, IL | $79,230 | +1% above national |
| 99 | Duluth, MN-WI | $79,230 | +1% above national |
| 100 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $79,230 | +1% above national |
| 101 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $79,130 | same as national |
| 102 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $79,060 | same as national |
| 103 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $79,040 | same as national |
| 104 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $79,030 | same as national |
| 105 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $79,020 | same as national |
| 106 | New Haven, CT | $78,960 | same as national |
| 107 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $78,940 | same as national |
| 108 | Rochester, NY | $78,890 | same as national |
| 109 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $78,880 | same as national |
| 110 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $78,740 | same as national |
| 111 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $78,730 | same as national |
| 112 | Huntsville, AL | $78,670 | same as national |
| 113 | Barnstable Town, MA | $78,660 | same as national |
| 114 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $78,650 | same as national |
| 115 | Grand Junction, CO | $78,650 | same as national |
| 116 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $78,610 | same as national |
| 117 | Glens Falls, NY | $78,590 | same as national |
| 118 | Manhattan, KS | $78,560 | same as national |
| 119 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $78,550 | same as national |
| 120 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $78,530 | same as national |
| 121 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $78,530 | same as national |
| 122 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $78,500 | same as national |
| 123 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $78,480 | same as national |
| 124 | Springfield, OH | $78,440 | same as national |
| 125 | Reading, PA | $78,350 | same as national |
| 126 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $78,310 | 1% below national |
| 127 | Chambersburg, PA | $78,260 | 1% below national |
| 128 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $78,200 | 1% below national |
| 129 | Cleveland, OH | $78,120 | 1% below national |
| 130 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $78,090 | 1% below national |
| 131 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $78,090 | 1% below national |
| 132 | Topeka, KS | $78,070 | 1% below national |
| 133 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $78,060 | 1% below national |
| 134 | Charlottesville, VA | $78,040 | 1% below national |
| 135 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $77,990 | 1% below national |
| 136 | Pittsburgh, PA | $77,980 | 1% below national |
| 137 | Syracuse, NY | $77,970 | 1% below national |
| 138 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $77,780 | 1% below national |
| 139 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $77,770 | 1% below national |
| 140 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $77,730 | 1% below national |
| 141 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $77,710 | 1% below national |
| 142 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $77,710 | 1% below national |
| 143 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $77,650 | 1% below national |
| 144 | Missoula, MT | $77,640 | 1% below national |
| 145 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $77,600 | 1% below national |
| 146 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $77,590 | 1% below national |
| 147 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $77,570 | 1% below national |
| 148 | Richmond, VA | $77,540 | 2% below national |
| 149 | Akron, OH | $77,490 | 2% below national |
| 150 | Sandusky, OH | $77,490 | 2% below national |
| 151 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $77,480 | 2% below national |
| 152 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $77,460 | 2% below national |
| 153 | Lancaster, PA | $77,450 | 2% below national |
| 154 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $77,420 | 2% below national |
| 155 | Elmira, NY | $77,400 | 2% below national |
| 156 | Redding, CA | $77,360 | 2% below national |
| 157 | Eau Claire, WI | $77,330 | 2% below national |
| 158 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $77,310 | 2% below national |
| 159 | Evansville, IN | $77,290 | 2% below national |
| 160 | Toledo, OH | $77,230 | 2% below national |
| 161 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $77,110 | 2% below national |
| 162 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $77,070 | 2% below national |
| 163 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $77,070 | 2% below national |
| 164 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $77,060 | 2% below national |
| 165 | Kingston, NY | $77,020 | 2% below national |
| 166 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $77,000 | 2% below national |
| 167 | Mobile, AL | $76,980 | 2% below national |
| 168 | St. Cloud, MN | $76,980 | 2% below national |
| 169 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $76,980 | 2% below national |
| 170 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $76,960 | 2% below national |
| 171 | Ames, IA | $76,920 | 2% below national |
| 172 | Rochester, MN | $76,910 | 2% below national |
| 173 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,900 | 2% below national |
| 174 | Bend, OR | $76,890 | 2% below national |
| 175 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $76,820 | 2% below national |
| 176 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $76,810 | 2% below national |
| 177 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $76,800 | 2% below national |
| 178 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $76,730 | 3% below national |
| 179 | Morgantown, WV | $76,690 | 3% below national |
| 180 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $76,660 | 3% below national |
| 181 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $76,650 | 3% below national |
| 182 | Rockford, IL | $76,630 | 3% below national |
| 183 | Kokomo, IN | $76,490 | 3% below national |
| 184 | Bloomington, IN | $76,450 | 3% below national |
| 185 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $76,430 | 3% below national |
| 186 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $76,430 | 3% below national |
| 187 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $76,390 | 3% below national |
| 188 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $76,390 | 3% below national |
| 189 | Omaha, NE-IA | $76,350 | 3% below national |
| 190 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $76,260 | 3% below national |
| 191 | Flint, MI | $76,250 | 3% below national |
| 192 | Appleton, WI | $76,230 | 3% below national |
| 193 | Albany, OR | $76,200 | 3% below national |
| 194 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $76,200 | 3% below national |
| 195 | Salem, OR | $76,190 | 3% below national |
| 196 | Warner Robins, GA | $76,160 | 3% below national |
| 197 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $76,140 | 3% below national |
| 198 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $76,130 | 3% below national |
| 199 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $76,040 | 3% below national |
| 200 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $76,030 | 3% below national |
| 201 | Saginaw, MI | $75,940 | 4% below national |
| 202 | Peoria, IL | $75,870 | 4% below national |
| 203 | Carson City, NV | $75,860 | 4% below national |
| 204 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $75,800 | 4% below national |
| 205 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $75,790 | 4% below national |
| 206 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $75,750 | 4% below national |
| 207 | Lincoln, NE | $75,740 | 4% below national |
| 208 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $75,740 | 4% below national |
| 209 | Binghamton, NY | $75,730 | 4% below national |
| 210 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $75,720 | 4% below national |
| 211 | Winchester, VA-WV | $75,720 | 4% below national |
| 212 | Utica-Rome, NY | $75,700 | 4% below national |
| 213 | Billings, MT | $75,600 | 4% below national |
| 214 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $75,590 | 4% below national |
| 215 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $75,500 | 4% below national |
| 216 | Anchorage, AK | $75,460 | 4% below national |
| 217 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $75,460 | 4% below national |
| 218 | Waco, TX | $75,450 | 4% below national |
| 219 | Yakima, WA | $75,450 | 4% below national |
| 220 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $75,370 | 4% below national |
| 221 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $75,350 | 4% below national |
| 222 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $75,300 | 4% below national |
| 223 | Sheboygan, WI | $75,250 | 4% below national |
| 224 | Kankakee, IL | $75,230 | 4% below national |
| 225 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $75,220 | 4% below national |
| 226 | Jackson, MS | $75,170 | 5% below national |
| 227 | Fond du Lac, WI | $75,150 | 5% below national |
| 228 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $75,140 | 5% below national |
| 229 | Lafayette, LA | $75,110 | 5% below national |
| 230 | Wichita, KS | $75,090 | 5% below national |
| 231 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $75,090 | 5% below national |
| 232 | Iowa City, IA | $75,070 | 5% below national |
| 233 | Asheville, NC | $75,000 | 5% below national |
| 234 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $74,990 | 5% below national |
| 235 | Minot, ND | $74,990 | 5% below national |
| 236 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $74,990 | 5% below national |
| 237 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $74,920 | 5% below national |
| 238 | Idaho Falls, ID | $74,910 | 5% below national |
| 239 | Alexandria, LA | $74,890 | 5% below national |
| 240 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $74,880 | 5% below national |
| 241 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $74,860 | 5% below national |
| 242 | Dalton, GA | $74,840 | 5% below national |
| 243 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $74,830 | 5% below national |
| 244 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $74,820 | 5% below national |
| 245 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $74,800 | 5% below national |
| 246 | Montgomery, AL | $74,790 | 5% below national |
| 247 | Gettysburg, PA | $74,730 | 5% below national |
| 248 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $74,730 | 5% below national |
| 249 | Battle Creek, MI | $74,720 | 5% below national |
| 250 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $74,720 | 5% below national |
| 251 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $74,680 | 5% below national |
| 252 | Mankato, MN | $74,660 | 5% below national |
| 253 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $74,620 | 5% below national |
| 254 | Lake Charles, LA | $74,570 | 5% below national |
| 255 | Lynchburg, VA | $74,570 | 5% below national |
| 256 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $74,570 | 5% below national |
| 257 | Lima, OH | $74,460 | 5% below national |
| 258 | Visalia, CA | $74,430 | 5% below national |
| 259 | Yuba City, CA | $74,430 | 5% below national |
| 260 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $74,420 | 5% below national |
| 261 | Salisbury, MD | $74,420 | 5% below national |
| 262 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $74,390 | 6% below national |
| 263 | Punta Gorda, FL | $74,380 | 6% below national |
| 264 | Cleveland, TN | $74,350 | 6% below national |
| 265 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $74,160 | 6% below national |
| 266 | Green Bay, WI | $74,120 | 6% below national |
| 267 | Walla Walla, WA | $74,050 | 6% below national |
| 268 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $74,010 | 6% below national |
| 269 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $73,940 | 6% below national |
| 270 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $73,900 | 6% below national |
| 271 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $73,800 | 6% below national |
| 272 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $73,760 | 6% below national |
| 273 | Fargo, ND-MN | $73,760 | 6% below national |
| 274 | Harrisonburg, VA | $73,730 | 6% below national |
| 275 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $73,710 | 6% below national |
| 276 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $73,690 | 6% below national |
| 277 | Decatur, AL | $73,650 | 6% below national |
| 278 | Jackson, MI | $73,650 | 6% below national |
| 279 | Lebanon, PA | $73,640 | 6% below national |
| 280 | Tucson, AZ | $73,590 | 7% below national |
| 281 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $73,580 | 7% below national |
| 282 | Madison, WI | $73,420 | 7% below national |
| 283 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $73,410 | 7% below national |
| 284 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $73,360 | 7% below national |
| 285 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $73,320 | 7% below national |
| 286 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $73,310 | 7% below national |
| 287 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $73,310 | 7% below national |
| 288 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $73,180 | 7% below national |
| 289 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $73,130 | 7% below national |
| 290 | Albuquerque, NM | $73,090 | 7% below national |
| 291 | Oklahoma City, OK | $73,030 | 7% below national |
| 292 | Monroe, MI | $72,970 | 7% below national |
| 293 | Dover, DE | $72,930 | 7% below national |
| 294 | Knoxville, TN | $72,900 | 7% below national |
| 295 | Wilmington, NC | $72,900 | 7% below national |
| 296 | Altoona, PA | $72,880 | 7% below national |
| 297 | Merced, CA | $72,880 | 7% below national |
| 298 | State College, PA | $72,880 | 7% below national |
| 299 | Tulsa, OK | $72,880 | 7% below national |
| 300 | Bangor, ME | $72,850 | 7% below national |
| 301 | Fayetteville, NC | $72,840 | 7% below national |
| 302 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $72,800 | 8% below national |
| 303 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $72,710 | 8% below national |
| 304 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $72,670 | 8% below national |
| 305 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $72,670 | 8% below national |
| 306 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $72,660 | 8% below national |
| 307 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $72,660 | 8% below national |
| 308 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $72,640 | 8% below national |
| 309 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $72,480 | 8% below national |
| 310 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $72,470 | 8% below national |
| 311 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $72,450 | 8% below national |
| 312 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $72,430 | 8% below national |
| 313 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $72,370 | 8% below national |
| 314 | Burlington, NC | $72,330 | 8% below national |
| 315 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $72,320 | 8% below national |
| 316 | Mansfield, OH | $72,290 | 8% below national |
| 317 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $72,270 | 8% below national |
| 318 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $72,270 | 8% below national |
| 319 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $72,210 | 8% below national |
| 320 | Rapid City, SD | $72,210 | 8% below national |
| 321 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $72,210 | 8% below national |
| 322 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $72,170 | 8% below national |
| 323 | Amarillo, TX | $72,140 | 8% below national |
| 324 | Greenville, NC | $72,050 | 8% below national |
| 325 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $72,050 | 8% below national |
| 326 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $72,030 | 9% below national |
| 327 | Gainesville, GA | $71,960 | 9% below national |
| 328 | Wausau, WI | $71,850 | 9% below national |
| 329 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $71,850 | 9% below national |
| 330 | Bowling Green, KY | $71,720 | 9% below national |
| 331 | Bay City, MI | $71,660 | 9% below national |
| 332 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $71,640 | 9% below national |
| 333 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $71,630 | 9% below national |
| 334 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $71,630 | 9% below national |
| 335 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $71,580 | 9% below national |
| 336 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $71,580 | 9% below national |
| 337 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $71,550 | 9% below national |
| 338 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $71,500 | 9% below national |
| 339 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $71,480 | 9% below national |
| 340 | Morristown, TN | $71,400 | 9% below national |
| 341 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $71,390 | 9% below national |
| 342 | Medford, OR | $71,360 | 9% below national |
| 343 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $71,360 | 9% below national |
| 344 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $71,340 | 9% below national |
| 345 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $71,340 | 9% below national |
| 346 | Roanoke, VA | $71,320 | 9% below national |
| 347 | Winston-Salem, NC | $71,220 | 10% below national |
| 348 | Fort Wayne, IN | $71,200 | 10% below national |
| 349 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $71,100 | 10% below national |
| 350 | Bismarck, ND | $71,020 | 10% below national |
| 351 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $71,000 | 10% below national |
| 352 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $71,000 | 10% below national |
| 353 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $70,810 | 10% below national |
| 354 | Niles, MI | $70,720 | 10% below national |
| 355 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $70,690 | 10% below national |
| 356 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $70,690 | 10% below national |
| 357 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $70,640 | 10% below national |
| 358 | Lawrence, KS | $70,630 | 10% below national |
| 359 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $70,560 | 10% below national |
| 360 | Rocky Mount, NC | $70,510 | 10% below national |
| 361 | Owensboro, KY | $70,460 | 11% below national |
| 362 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $70,450 | 11% below national |
| 363 | Goldsboro, NC | $70,360 | 11% below national |
| 364 | Flagstaff, AZ | $70,350 | 11% below national |
| 365 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $70,320 | 11% below national |
| 366 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $70,260 | 11% below national |
| 367 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $70,260 | 11% below national |
| 368 | Midland, MI | $69,990 | 11% below national |
| 369 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $69,950 | 11% below national |
| 370 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $69,820 | 11% below national |
| 371 | Twin Falls, ID | $69,740 | 11% below national |
| 372 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $69,700 | 11% below national |
| 373 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $69,670 | 12% below national |
| 374 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $69,610 | 12% below national |
| 375 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $69,600 | 12% below national |
| 376 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $69,590 | 12% below national |
| 377 | Spartanburg, SC | $69,490 | 12% below national |
| 378 | Longview, TX | $69,450 | 12% below national |
| 379 | Gadsden, AL | $69,430 | 12% below national |
| 380 | Jefferson City, MO | $69,430 | 12% below national |
| 381 | Jackson, TN | $69,380 | 12% below national |
| 382 | Erie, PA | $69,370 | 12% below national |
| 383 | Elizabethtown, KY | $69,300 | 12% below national |
| 384 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $69,210 | 12% below national |
| 385 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $69,200 | 12% below national |
| 386 | Jacksonville, FL | $69,090 | 12% below national |
| 387 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $69,080 | 12% below national |
| 388 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $69,000 | 12% below national |
| 389 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $68,890 | 13% below national |
| 390 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $68,850 | 13% below national |
| 391 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $68,820 | 13% below national |
| 392 | Great Falls, MT | $68,740 | 13% below national |
| 393 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $68,720 | 13% below national |
| 394 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $68,640 | 13% below national |
| 395 | Columbia, MO | $68,610 | 13% below national |
| 396 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $68,550 | 13% below national |
| 397 | St. George, UT | $68,550 | 13% below national |
| 398 | El Centro, CA | $68,430 | 13% below national |
| 399 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $68,390 | 13% below national |
| 400 | Kenosha, WI | $68,370 | 13% below national |
| 401 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $68,360 | 13% below national |
| 402 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $68,350 | 13% below national |
| 403 | Savannah, GA | $68,120 | 13% below national |
| 404 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $68,080 | 14% below national |
| 405 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $68,080 | 14% below national |
| 406 | Monroe, LA | $68,030 | 14% below national |
| 407 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $67,820 | 14% below national |
| 408 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $67,760 | 14% below national |
| 409 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $67,720 | 14% below national |
| 410 | Tallahassee, FL | $67,700 | 14% below national |
| 411 | Gainesville, FL | $67,690 | 14% below national |
| 412 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $67,610 | 14% below national |
| 413 | Jacksonville, NC | $67,530 | 14% below national |
| 414 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $67,370 | 14% below national |
| 415 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $67,370 | 14% below national |
| 416 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $67,220 | 15% below national |
| 417 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $67,200 | 15% below national |
| 418 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $67,040 | 15% below national |
| 419 | Valdosta, GA | $66,880 | 15% below national |
| 420 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $66,870 | 15% below national |
| 421 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $66,860 | 15% below national |
| 422 | Albany, GA | $66,720 | 15% below national |
| 423 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $66,660 | 15% below national |
| 424 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $66,660 | 15% below national |
| 425 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $66,590 | 15% below national |
| 426 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $66,560 | 15% below national |
| 427 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $66,420 | 16% below national |
| 428 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $66,340 | 16% below national |
| 429 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $66,290 | 16% below national |
| 430 | Hattiesburg, MS | $66,060 | 16% below national |
| 431 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $66,060 | 16% below national |
| 432 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $65,970 | 16% below national |
| 433 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $65,940 | 16% below national |
| 434 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $65,930 | 16% below national |
| 435 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $65,920 | 16% below national |
| 436 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $65,900 | 16% below national |
| 437 | San Angelo, TX | $65,880 | 16% below national |
| 438 | Columbia, SC | $65,850 | 16% below national |
| 439 | Williamsport, PA | $65,740 | 17% below national |
| 440 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $65,700 | 17% below national |
| 441 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $65,670 | 17% below national |
| 442 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $65,480 | 17% below national |
| 443 | Joplin, MO-KS | $65,360 | 17% below national |
| 444 | Yuma, AZ | $65,330 | 17% below national |
| 445 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $65,320 | 17% below national |
| 446 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $65,250 | 17% below national |
| 447 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $65,230 | 17% below national |
| 448 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $65,000 | 17% below national |
| 449 | Grants Pass, OR | $64,870 | 18% below national |
| 450 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $64,860 | 18% below national |
| 451 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $64,670 | 18% below national |
| 452 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $64,480 | 18% below national |
| 453 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $64,420 | 18% below national |
| 454 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $64,420 | 18% below national |
| 455 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $64,380 | 18% below national |
| 456 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $64,360 | 18% below national |
| 457 | Pocatello, ID | $64,320 | 18% below national |
| 458 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $64,240 | 18% below national |
| 459 | Grand Island, NE | $64,200 | 18% below national |
| 460 | Springfield, MO | $64,160 | 19% below national |
| 461 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $64,030 | 19% below national |
| 462 | Muncie, IN | $63,870 | 19% below national |
| 463 | Johnstown, PA | $63,860 | 19% below national |
| 464 | Victoria, TX | $63,840 | 19% below national |
| 465 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $63,770 | 19% below national |
| 466 | Wichita Falls, TX | $63,680 | 19% below national |
| 467 | Ocala, FL | $63,660 | 19% below national |
| 468 | Abilene, TX | $63,630 | 19% below national |
| 469 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $63,630 | 19% below national |
| 470 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $63,560 | 19% below national |
| 471 | Sumter, SC | $63,450 | 19% below national |
| 472 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $63,280 | 20% below national |
| 473 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $63,240 | 20% below national |
| 474 | Lubbock, TX | $63,120 | 20% below national |
| 475 | Traverse City, MI | $63,070 | 20% below national |
| 476 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $62,950 | 20% below national |
| 477 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $62,920 | 20% below national |
| 478 | Tyler, TX | $62,910 | 20% below national |
| 479 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $62,760 | 20% below national |
| 480 | Farmington, NM | $62,530 | 21% below national |
| 481 | Johnson City, TN | $62,270 | 21% below national |
| 482 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $62,260 | 21% below national |
| 483 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $62,190 | 21% below national |
| 484 | Logan, UT-ID | $62,180 | 21% below national |
| 485 | Columbus, GA-AL | $62,100 | 21% below national |
| 486 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $61,990 | 21% below national |
| 487 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $61,750 | 22% below national |
| 488 | Santa Fe, NM | $61,570 | 22% below national |
| 489 | Florence, SC | $61,520 | 22% below national |
| 490 | Dothan, AL | $61,400 | 22% below national |
| 491 | Terre Haute, IN | $61,310 | 22% below national |
| 492 | El Paso, TX | $60,880 | 23% below national |
| 493 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $60,610 | 23% below national |
| 494 | Aguadilla, PR | $60,200 | 24% below national |
| 495 | Hammond, LA | $59,760 | 24% below national |
| 496 | Laredo, TX | $58,360 | 26% below national |
| 497 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $57,820 | 27% below national |
| 498 | Enid, OK | $57,810 | 27% below national |
| 499 | Hot Springs, AR | $56,760 | 28% below national |
| 500 | Jonesboro, AR | $56,160 | 29% below national |
| 501 | Las Cruces, NM | $56,010 | 29% below national |
| 502 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $54,400 | 31% below national |
| 503 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $53,800 | 32% below national |
| 504 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $53,640 | 32% below national |
| 505 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $53,510 | 32% below national |
| 506 | Beckley, WV | $53,470 | 32% below national |
| 507 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $52,000 | 34% below national |
| 508 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $50,900 | 35% below national |
| 509 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $47,430 | 40% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 13 (business and financial operations) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Cost Estimators make? ▼
The median annual salary for Cost Estimators is $78,740 ($37.86/hour). The salary range spans from $48,530 at the 10th percentile to $130,820 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Cost Estimators the most? ▼
Massachusetts pays the highest median salary for Cost Estimators at $100,840/year, which is +28% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Cost Estimators? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Cost Estimators is Bachelor's degree. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Cost Estimators? ▼
Cost Estimators has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.3 per 100 workers.
Is Cost Estimators a good career? ▼
Employment for Cost Estimators is projected to decline 4.2% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 16,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Cost Estimators pay vary by state? ▼
Cost Estimators salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Massachusetts at $100,840/year, while Oklahoma pays the least at $67,800/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Cost Estimators? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Cost Estimators is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $102,640/year. BLS reports wage data for 509 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Cost Estimators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $101,850/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Massachusetts leads at $100,840/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.