Cost Estimator Salary in Riverside, CA
Cost Estimators in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $76,900 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,990 take-home, or $4,916 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,088
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,768
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,115
- California income tax$2,940
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,000
- Take-home pay$58,990
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,750 | $23.92 | $40,473 | $3,373 |
| 25th percentile | $58,740 | $28.24 | $47,040 | $3,920 |
| Median (50th) | $76,900 | $36.97 | $58,990 | $4,916 |
| 75th percentile | $100,030 | $48.09 | $72,828 | $6,069 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,940 | $61.99 | $89,958 | $7,497 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,900 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $58,990 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,419 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Riverside, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of cost estimator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Riverside, CA | $76,900 | $58,990 | $55,419 |
*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.
Cost Estimator salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $101,630
- San Diego, CA — $87,170
- Los Angeles, CA — $82,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Riverside, CA?
The median cost estimator salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $76,900 a year, or about $36.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,740 and $100,030.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $76,900 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $58,990 a year ($4,916 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,940 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,419 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #19 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 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 Riverside, CA
- Project Management Specialist — $100,770
- Management Analyst — $87,910
- Accountant and Auditor — $83,920
- Compliance Officer — $79,920
- Human Resources Specialist — $76,570
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $75,780
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $75,380
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $69,840
- Training and Development Specialist — $60,010