Cost Estimator salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Cost Estimators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $83,640 a year ($40.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,610 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,460 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $78,740. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $82,750. There are 1.0 cost estimators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $91,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cost estimators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,720 | $24.38 |
| 25th percentile | $64,320 | $30.92 |
| Median | $83,640 | $40.21 |
| 75th percentile | $109,990 | $52.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,460 | $67.05 |
| Average (mean) | $91,010 | $43.76 |
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 period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,970 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,485 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,216.92 |
| Weekly | $1,608.46 |
| Hourly | $40.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cost Estimator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Paducah, KY-IL | $82,610 | 80 |
| Springfield, IL | $82,230 | 100 |
| Columbus, IN | $80,800 | 50 |
| Bloomington, IL | $80,590 | 80 |
| Decatur, IL | $79,230 | 60 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $79,130 | 1,630 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $78,730 | 3,170 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $78,530 | 190 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $77,770 | 70 |
| Evansville, IN | $77,290 | 240 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $77,000 | 810 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $76,730 | 1,690 |
| Rockford, IL | $76,630 | 160 |
| Kokomo, IN | $76,490 | 40 |
| Bloomington, IN | $76,450 | 70 |
| Peoria, IL | $75,870 | 260 |
| Kankakee, IL | $75,230 | 60 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $74,820 | 120 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $71,550 | 170 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $71,200 | 380 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $70,690 | 190 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $69,000 | 60 |
| Muncie, IN | $63,870 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $63,630 | 60 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $61,310 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for cost estimators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $100,840 |
| Alaska | $97,020 |
| Wyoming | $90,790 |
| Colorado | $86,940 |
| Washington | $86,070 |
| California | $85,460 |
| Illinois | $82,750 |
| District of Columbia | $82,730 |
| Nevada | $82,200 |
| Rhode Island | $81,990 |
See Cost Estimator pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Management Analyst | $105,090 | $50.53 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $80,400 | $38.65 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $81,170 | $39.02 |
| Project Management Specialist | $105,320 | $50.64 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $78,510 | $37.74 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $67,050 | $32.23 |
| Logistician | $79,900 | $38.42 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,640 | $37.81 |
| Compliance Officer | $82,020 | $39.43 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $62,640 | $30.12 |
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $79,990 | $38.46 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $103,570 | $49.79 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for cost estimators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $83,640 a year, or $40.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cost estimators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of cost estimators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $139,460 a year. The top 25% earn $109,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for cost estimators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,720 a year, and a quarter of cost estimators earn $64,320 or less.
How many cost estimators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 4,610 cost estimators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.