Virginia · SOC 13-1051

Cost Estimators in Virginia

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 Virginia; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$80,530

per year in this state

+2% above

National Median

$78,740

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$38.72/hr

median hourly

Employment

5,840

jobs in VA

Salary Range in Virginia

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$49,820
25th$62,600
Median$80,530
75th$100,830
90th$129,330

What This Means for Cost Estimators in Virginia

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Virginia ranks #16 of 53 states and territories for Cost Estimators pay, the middle tier (30th percentile) nationally. Cost Estimators working in Virginia earn a median salary of $80,530, which is +2% above the national median of $78,740. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $49,820 at the 10th percentile to $129,330 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 Virginia using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $80,530 ($38.72/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 5,840 workers in this SOC code (13-1051). Relative to the national median of $78,740, the state estimate is +2% above. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within Virginia, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $49,820, the 25th earns $62,600, the 75th reaches $100,830, and the 90th hits $129,330. 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 Virginia 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 Virginia

Similar Occupations in Virginia

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 Virginia. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Similar median pay

Nearest state medians ($80,530 here).

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (5,840 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 Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Cost Estimators make in Virginia?
The median annual salary for Cost Estimators in Virginia is $80,530 (+2% above national avg). Pay ranges from $49,820 (10th percentile) to $129,330 (90th percentile).
How many Cost Estimators work in Virginia?
There are approximately 5,840 Cost Estimators employed in Virginia, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Cost Estimators in Virginia?
The median hourly wage for Cost Estimators in Virginia is $38.72/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 Virginia.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Virginia 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.