How much does a Cost Estimators make?

The median annual wage for Cost Estimators is $78,740 ($38 per hour). Pay ranges from about $48,530 at the 10th percentile to $130,820 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Cost Estimators?

The average (mean) annual salary is $85,390, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Cost Estimatorss the most?

Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $100,840.

Is Cost Estimators a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 224K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Cost Estimators do?

Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.; Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.; Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products..

Cost Estimators Salary

Business and Financial Operations Occupations · 224K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$78,740

Median hourly

$38

Average annual

$85,390

Typical range

$48,530–$130,820

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$48,530

25th$61,150

Median$78,740

75th$101,850

90th$130,820

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Cost Estimators is $78,740 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $38 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured..

Most earn between $48,530 and $130,820 a year. There are roughly 224K people employed as cost estimators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Cost Estimators.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $37.86
Daily: $303
Weekly: $1,514
Bi-weekly: $3,028
Monthly: $6,562
Annual: $78,740

$78,740 a year is around the 50th percentile for Cost Estimatorss. The median is $78,740.

Cost Estimators — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$23.30	$48,530
25th percentile	$29.40	$61,150
Median	$37.90	$78,740
75th percentile	$49.00	$101,850
90th percentile	$62.90	$130,820
Average (mean)	$41.10	$85,390
Employment	224,220 people

Key skills

Reading Comprehension
Mathematics
Speaking
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Writing
Complex Problem Solving
Active Learning
Social Perceptiveness

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1Massachusetts$100,840
2Alaska$97,020
3Wyoming$90,790
4Colorado$86,940
5Washington$86,070
6California$85,460
7Illinois$82,750
8District of Columbia$82,730
9Nevada$82,200
10Rhode Island$81,990
11Vermont$81,390
12Maryland$81,190

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$102,640
2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$101,630
3Amherst Town-Northampton, MA$100,410
4San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$97,580
5Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$95,650
6Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$94,490
7Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$92,600
8Worcester, MA$92,570
9Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$89,820
10Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$89,540
11Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$89,330
12Pittsfield, MA$88,080

Related job titles

Employers advertise Cost Estimators roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Cost Estimators does

Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.
Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Cost Estimators make?: The median annual wage for Cost Estimators is $78,740 ($38 per hour). Pay ranges from about $48,530 at the 10th percentile to $130,820 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Cost Estimators?: The average (mean) annual salary is $85,390, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Cost Estimatorss the most?: Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $100,840.
Is Cost Estimators a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 224K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Cost Estimators do?: Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.; Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.; Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products..