Cost Estimator salary in Texas
Cost Estimators in Texas earn a median of $76,980 a year ($37.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 20,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,310 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $78,740. Texas ranks 31st of 51 states for cost estimators pay. There are 1.5 cost estimators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $83,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cost estimators in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| 25th percentile | $58,970 | $28.35 |
| Median | $76,980 | $37.01 |
| 75th percentile | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,310 | $63.61 |
| Average (mean) | $83,780 | $40.28 |
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 | $6,415 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,207.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,960.77 |
| Weekly | $1,480.38 |
| Hourly | $37.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cost Estimator salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | $82,540 | 180 |
| Odessa, TX | $79,760 | 100 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $79,550 | 300 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $79,290 | 6,200 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $78,650 | 1,990 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $78,200 | 5,660 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $77,420 | 370 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $75,590 | 140 |
| Waco, TX | $75,450 | 210 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $74,830 | 1,690 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $74,420 | 210 |
| Amarillo, TX | $72,140 | 170 |
| Longview, TX | $69,450 | 190 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $67,220 | 70 |
| San Angelo, TX | $65,880 | 60 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $65,320 | 80 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $64,420 | 230 |
| Victoria, TX | $63,840 | 50 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $63,680 | 60 |
| Abilene, TX | $63,630 | 80 |
| Lubbock, TX | $63,120 | 220 |
| Tyler, TX | $62,910 | 140 |
| El Paso, TX | $60,880 | 410 |
| Laredo, TX | $58,360 | 60 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $57,820 | 120 |
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 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management Specialist | $98,440 | $47.33 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $80,820 | $38.86 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $68,920 | $33.14 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $72,520 | $34.87 |
| Management Analyst | $101,400 | $48.75 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $62,860 | $30.22 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $76,050 | $36.56 |
| Compliance Officer | $75,370 | $36.24 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,800 | $37.89 |
| Logistician | $75,480 | $36.29 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $57,470 | $27.63 |
| Fundraiser | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $79,640 | $38.29 |
| Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | $79,200 | $38.08 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for cost estimators in Texas is $76,980 a year, or $37.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cost estimators make in Texas?
The top 10% of cost estimators in Texas earn at least $132,310 a year. The top 25% earn $100,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for cost estimators in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,760 a year, and a quarter of cost estimators earn $58,970 or less.
How many cost estimators work in Texas?
About 20,760 cost estimators are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.