Kentucky · SOC 13-1051

Cost Estimators in Kentucky

State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Kentucky; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$74,880

per year in this state

5% below

National Median

$78,740

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$36.00/hr

median hourly

Employment

1,960

jobs in KY

Salary Range in Kentucky

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$46,410
25th$57,990
Median$74,880
75th$98,450
90th$119,530

What This Means for Cost Estimators in Kentucky

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Kentucky ranks #41 of 53 states and territories for Cost Estimators pay, the bottom 24% nationally. Cost Estimators working in Kentucky earn a median salary of $74,880, which is 5% below the national median of $78,740. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $46,410 at the 10th percentile to $119,530 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Cost Estimators labor market inside Kentucky using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $74,880 ($36.00/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 1,960 workers in this SOC code (13-1051). Relative to the national median of $78,740, the state estimate is 5% below. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within Kentucky, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $46,410, the 25th earns $57,990, the 75th reaches $98,450, and the 90th hits $119,530. The upper boundary is roughly 2.6× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Kentucky where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in Kentucky

Similar Occupations in Kentucky

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Cost Estimators pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Kentucky. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Similar median pay

Nearest state medians ($74,880 here).

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (1,960 jobs here; floor 1,000).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 13-1051. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Cost Estimators make in Kentucky?
The median annual salary for Cost Estimators in Kentucky is $74,880 (5% below national avg). Pay ranges from $46,410 (10th percentile) to $119,530 (90th percentile).
How many Cost Estimators work in Kentucky?
There are approximately 1,960 Cost Estimators employed in Kentucky, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Cost Estimators in Kentucky?
The median hourly wage for Cost Estimators in Kentucky is $36.00/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in Kentucky.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Kentucky figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.