Cost Estimator Salary in Chicago, IL
Cost Estimators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $83,640 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,675 take-home, or $5,306 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,571
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,186
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,213
- Illinois income tax$3,995
- Take-home pay$63,675
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,720 | $24.38 | $40,568 | $3,381 |
| 25th percentile | $64,320 | $30.92 | $50,822 | $4,235 |
| Median (50th) | $83,640 | $40.21 | $63,675 | $5,306 |
| 75th percentile | $109,990 | $52.88 | $80,908 | $6,742 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,460 | $67.05 | $99,828 | $8,319 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,640 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $63,675 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,466 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 Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $83,640 | $63,675 | $61,466 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median cost estimator salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $83,640 a year, or about $40.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,320 and $109,990.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $83,640 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $63,675 a year ($5,306 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,995 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,466 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #12 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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