Cost Estimator Salary in Atlanta, GA
Cost Estimators in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $82,870 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,451 take-home, or $5,288 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,401
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,138
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,202
- Georgia income tax$3,678
- Take-home pay$63,451
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,500 | $23.80 | $40,007 | $3,334 |
| 25th percentile | $63,440 | $30.50 | $50,484 | $4,207 |
| Median (50th) | $82,870 | $39.84 | $63,451 | $5,288 |
| 75th percentile | $100,800 | $48.46 | $75,134 | $6,261 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,750 | $64.78 | $96,997 | $8,083 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,870 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $63,451 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,414 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cost Estimator jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #7 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $102,640 | $76,125 | $70,313 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $94,490 | $75,304 | $67,760 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $89,820 | $68,775 | $65,015 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $78,200 | $63,844 | $64,731 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $78,730 | $61,454 | $64,628 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $101,630 | $73,784 | $63,819 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $82,870 | $63,451 | $63,414 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $77,990 | $61,093 | $62,757 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
About the job: cost estimators
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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.1% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Atlanta, GA?
The median cost estimator salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $82,870 a year, or about $39.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,440 and $100,800.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $82,870 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $63,451 a year ($5,288 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,678 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,414 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #7 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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