Cost Estimator Salary in San Francisco, CA
Cost Estimators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $101,630 a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,784 take-home, or $6,149 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,529
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,301
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,474
- California income tax$5,222
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,321
- Take-home pay$73,784
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cost Estimator pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,910 | $28.32 | $47,164 | $3,930 |
| 25th percentile | $76,640 | $36.85 | $58,831 | $4,903 |
| Median (50th) | $101,630 | $48.86 | $73,784 | $6,149 |
| 75th percentile | $133,140 | $64.01 | $92,384 | $7,699 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,780 | $80.66 | $112,389 | $9,366 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,630 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $73,784 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,819 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 San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #6 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.
Cost Estimator salaries elsewhere in California
- San Diego, CA — $87,170
- Riverside, CA — $76,900
- Los Angeles, CA — $82,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in San Francisco, CA?
The median cost estimator salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $101,630 a year, or about $48.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,640 and $133,140.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $101,630 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $73,784 a year ($6,149 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,543 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,819 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #6 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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