Cost Estimator Salary in New York, NY
Cost Estimators in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $82,380 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,933 take-home, or $5,244 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,294
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,108
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,195
- New York income tax$3,852
- Take-home pay$62,933
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $2,758 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $60,175 ($5,015 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,000 | $25.00 | $41,751 | $3,479 |
| 25th percentile | $62,020 | $29.82 | $49,261 | $4,105 |
| Median (50th) | $82,380 | $39.61 | $62,933 | $5,244 |
| 75th percentile | $113,610 | $54.62 | $83,092 | $6,924 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,690 | $72.45 | $106,412 | $8,868 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,380 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $62,933 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,909 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 New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | New York, NY | $82,380 | $62,933 | $55,909 |
*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 New York, NY?
The median cost estimator salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $82,380 a year, or about $39.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,020 and $113,610.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $82,380 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $62,933 a year ($5,244 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,852 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,909 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #18 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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