Cost Estimator salary in Winston-Salem, NC
Cost Estimators in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn a median of $71,220 a year ($34.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,740 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $78,740. Pay here is 5% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $74,730. There are 2.0 cost estimators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,700, close to the median.
Pay range for cost estimators in Winston-Salem, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| 25th percentile | $55,040 | $26.46 |
| Median | $71,220 | $34.24 |
| 75th percentile | $77,320 | $37.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,740 | $51.32 |
| Average (mean) | $70,700 | $33.99 |
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 | $5,935 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,967.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,739.23 |
| Weekly | $1,369.62 |
| Hourly | $34.24 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $80,850 | 1,440 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $80,800 | 360 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $79,230 | 1,420 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $77,990 | 2,360 |
| Asheville, NC | $75,000 | 330 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $73,410 | 600 |
| Wilmington, NC | $72,900 | 370 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $72,840 | 150 |
| Burlington, NC | $72,330 | 90 |
| Greenville, NC | $72,050 | 140 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $70,810 | 60 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $70,510 | 110 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $70,360 | 70 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $67,530 | 90 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $62,950 | 200 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Winston-Salem, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management Specialist | $79,560 | $38.25 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $63,560 | $30.56 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $75,310 | $36.21 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $68,540 | $32.95 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $73,320 | $35.25 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $59,860 | $28.78 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $71,930 | $34.58 |
| Compliance Officer | $74,980 | $36.05 |
| Management Analyst | $82,050 | $39.45 |
| Logistician | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| Fundraiser | $75,440 | $36.27 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $62,190 | $29.90 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $76,680 | $36.87 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Winston-Salem, NC
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 Winston-Salem, NC?
The median salary for cost estimators in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area is $71,220 a year, or $34.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cost estimators make in Winston-Salem, NC?
The top 10% of cost estimators in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn at least $106,740 a year. The top 25% earn $77,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for cost estimators in Winston-Salem, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,300 a year, and a quarter of cost estimators earn $55,040 or less.
How many cost estimators work in Winston-Salem, NC?
About 540 cost estimators are employed in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.