Cost Estimator Salary in Boston, MA
Cost Estimators in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $102,640 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,125 take-home, or $6,344 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,751
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,364
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,488
- Massachusetts income tax$4,912
- Take-home pay$76,125
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,200 | $30.38 | $50,021 | $4,168 |
| 25th percentile | $77,980 | $37.49 | $60,010 | $5,001 |
| Median (50th) | $102,640 | $49.35 | $76,125 | $6,344 |
| 75th percentile | $129,530 | $62.27 | $93,543 | $7,795 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,200 | $75.58 | $111,072 | $9,256 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,640 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $76,125 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,313 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 less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #1 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 Boston, MA?
The median cost estimator salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $102,640 a year, or about $49.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,980 and $129,530.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $102,640 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $76,125 a year ($6,344 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,912 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,313 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #1 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Management Analyst — $135,640
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $117,520
- Project Management Specialist — $114,990
- Compliance Officer — $103,940
- Loan Officer — $103,400
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $102,390
- Logistician — $101,540
- Accountant and Auditor — $100,150
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists — $99,150
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $98,340
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $93,010
- Human Resources Specialist — $90,270