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Cost Estimator salary in the U.S.

Cost Estimators in the U.S. earn a median of $78,740 a year ($37.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 224,220 workers.

Median salary
$78,740
Hourly
$37.86
Average
$85,390
Top 10% earn
$130,820
Workers
224,220

Pay ranges from $48,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,820 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $85,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.

Pay range for cost estimators in the U.S.

$0$140,000
Pay levelYearlyHourly
10th percentile (entry level)$48,530$23.33
25th percentile$61,150$29.40
Median$78,740$37.86
75th percentile$101,850$48.97
90th percentile (top earners)$130,820$62.90
Average (mean)$85,390$41.06

Half of cost estimators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.

Median paycheck, before taxes

Pay periodAmount
Monthly$6,561.67
Semi-monthly (24 a year)$3,280.83
Biweekly (26 a year)$3,028.46
Weekly$1,514.23
Hourly$37.86

Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.

Cost Estimator salary by state

StateMedian salaryWorkers
Massachusetts$100,8404,520
Alaska$97,020220
Wyoming$90,790440
Colorado$86,9406,100
Washington$86,0707,470
California$85,46026,020
Illinois$82,7505,990
District of Columbia$82,730270
Nevada$82,2002,240
Rhode Island$81,990590
Vermont$81,390320
Maryland$81,1904,580
Connecticut$81,0302,350
Minnesota$80,8104,310
New Jersey$80,5705,240
Virginia$80,5305,840
Oregon$80,4602,940
New York$80,43011,980
Hawaii$80,3601,040
Idaho$79,7001,600
Utah$79,6102,800
New Hampshire$79,560980
Delaware$79,290730
Pennsylvania$78,4809,420
Michigan$77,9906,960
Ohio$77,7308,100
West Virginia$77,480830
Montana$77,3201,230
Louisiana$77,0302,680
Arizona$77,0105,760
Texas$76,98020,760
Georgia$76,8006,010
Wisconsin$76,2705,150
Kansas$76,2502,250
Iowa$76,0401,870
Missouri$76,0206,580
Tennessee$75,6504,340
Alabama$74,9903,000
Florida$74,99013,720
South Dakota$74,9501,030
Kentucky$74,8801,960
North Carolina$74,7308,030
Maine$74,080760
Indiana$73,4304,810
North Dakota$73,280730
Nebraska$73,1001,330
Mississippi$71,2301,280
South Carolina$70,2602,880
Oklahoma$67,8001,860
New Mexico$67,590900
Guam$63,35070
Arkansas$61,4701,400
Puerto Rico$47,130560

Best-paying metro areas for cost estimators

Metro areaMedian salaryWorkers
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$102,6403,110
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$101,6303,300
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA$100,41090
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$97,5801,680
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$95,650490
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$94,4904,340
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$92,600150
Worcester, MA$92,570550
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$89,8203,690
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$89,540290
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$89,3303,780
Pittsfield, MA$88,080100
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$87,720960
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$87,670100
Greeley, CO$87,350340

Metro areas with the most cost estimators

Metro areaWorkersMedian salary
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ11,610$82,380
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA7,600$82,260
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX6,200$79,290
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX5,660$78,200
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN4,610$83,640
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ4,380$77,590
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA4,340$94,490
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD4,190$79,880
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV3,780$89,330
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA3,740$82,870
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO3,690$89,820
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI3,400$80,200
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA3,300$101,630
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL3,230$76,040
St. Louis, MO-IL3,170$78,730

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian salaryHourly
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$83,050$39.93
Project Management Specialist$102,320$49.19
Human Resources Specialist$75,940$36.51
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$78,760$37.87
Management Analyst$101,860$48.97
Buyers and Purchasing Agents$77,710$37.36
Training and Development Specialists$69,280$33.31
Compliance Officer$80,730$38.81
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,000$37.50
Logistician$82,320$39.58
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$61,160$29.41
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$78,210$37.60
Fundraiser$72,550$34.88
Labor Relations Specialist$95,420$45.87

More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cost estimator make in the U.S.?

The median salary for cost estimators in the U.S. is $78,740 a year, or $37.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,820 for the top 10%.

How much do the highest-paid cost estimators make in the U.S.?

The top 10% of cost estimators in the U.S. earn at least $130,820 a year. The top 25% earn $101,850 or more.

What is the starting pay for cost estimators in the U.S.?

Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,530 a year, and a quarter of cost estimators earn $61,150 or less.

How many cost estimators work in the U.S.?

About 224,220 cost estimators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.