Cost Estimator Salary
Cost Estimators earn a median $78,740 a year nationally. Business and Financial Operations Occupations
U.S. median
$78,740
$37.86 per hour
Range
$48,530 – $130,820
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
224,220
across the U.S.
▲2.2%
Pay trend: The median for cost estimators in the U.S. rose from $77,070 (May 2024) to $78,740 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What cost estimators do
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)
- Openings per year
- 17,600
- Self-employed
- 1%
Employment of cost estimators is projected to shrink 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 17,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cost Estimator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$64,224
per year · effective tax rate 18.4%
$5,352Monthly
$2,676Twice a month
$2,470Every 2 weeks
$30.88Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,493
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,882
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,142
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,224
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,530 | $23.33 | $41,174 |
| 25th percentile | $61,150 | $29.40 | $51,314 |
| Median (50th) | $78,740 | $37.86 | $64,224 |
| 75th percentile | $101,850 | $48.97 | $80,481 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,820 | $62.89 | $100,681 |
Best cities for cost estimators (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $102,640 | $76,125 | $70,313 | 3,110 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $94,490 | $75,304 | $67,760 | 4,340 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $89,820 | $68,775 | $65,015 | 3,690 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $78,200 | $63,844 | $64,731 | 5,660 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $78,730 | $61,454 | $64,628 | 3,170 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $101,630 | $73,784 | $63,819 | 3,300 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $82,870 | $63,451 | $63,414 | 3,740 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $77,990 | $61,093 | $62,757 | 2,360 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $79,290 | $64,611 | $62,674 | 6,200 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $80,200 | $62,093 | $61,908 | 3,400 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $89,330 | $67,049 | $61,578 | 3,780 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $83,640 | $63,675 | $61,466 | 4,610 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,880 | $62,573 | $61,015 | 4,190 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $82,440 | $62,744 | $59,858 | 3,100 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $77,590 | $61,684 | $59,704 | 4,380 |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $80,130 | $61,759 | $59,107 | 2,430 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $87,170 | $65,144 | $58,223 | 2,740 |
| 18 | New York, NY | $82,380 | $62,933 | $55,909 | 11,610 |
| 19 | Riverside, CA | $76,900 | $58,990 | $55,419 | 3,160 |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $82,260 | $62,210 | $54,779 | 7,600 |
| 21 | Miami, FL | $76,040 | $62,324 | $54,596 | 3,230 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Boston, MA — $102,640
- San Francisco, CA — $101,630
- Seattle, WA — $94,490
- Denver, CO — $89,820
- Washington, DC — $89,330
- San Diego, CA — $87,170
- Chicago, IL — $83,640
- Atlanta, GA — $82,870
- Minneapolis, MN — $82,440
- New York, NY — $82,380
- Los Angeles, CA — $82,260
- Detroit, MI — $80,200
- Baltimore, MD — $80,130
- Philadelphia, PA — $79,880
- Dallas, TX — $79,290
Cost Estimator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $100,840 | −1.8% | $74,949 | $58,870 – $151,780 | 4,520 |
| Alaska | $97,020 | +42.0% | $77,084 | $52,020 – $163,740 | 220 |
| Wyoming | $90,790 | +21.3% | $72,701 | $52,680 – $108,490 | 440 |
| Colorado | $86,940 | +6.0% | $66,875 | $58,890 – $137,520 | 6,100 |
| Washington | $86,070 | +3.8% | $69,380 | $59,650 – $141,540 | 7,470 |
| California | $85,460 | +1.0% | $64,122 | $51,750 – $150,790 | 26,020 |
| Illinois | $82,750 | +3.6% | $63,093 | $49,200 – $136,590 | 5,990 |
| District of Columbia | $82,730 | −2.0% | $62,967 | $66,720 – $127,520 | 270 |
| Nevada | $82,200 | +2.4% | $66,658 | $49,200 – $132,350 | 2,240 |
| Rhode Island | $81,990 | +7.9% | $64,052 | $60,180 – $130,740 | 590 |
| Vermont | $81,390 | +3.3% | $63,176 | $56,600 – $113,230 | 320 |
| Maryland | $81,190 | −0.4% | $62,454 | $50,660 – $130,970 | 4,580 |
| Connecticut | $81,030 | +5.1% | $62,953 | $50,020 – $136,830 | 2,350 |
| Minnesota | $80,810 | +1.1% | $61,708 | $56,640 – $125,370 | 4,310 |
| New Jersey | $80,570 | −0.4% | $62,569 | $50,390 – $137,080 | 5,240 |
| Virginia | $80,530 | +6.0% | $61,666 | $49,820 – $129,330 | 5,840 |
| Oregon | $80,460 | +1.9% | $59,223 | $49,970 – $133,460 | 2,940 |
| New York | $80,430 | −3.0% | $61,666 | $52,000 – $139,690 | 11,980 |
| Hawaii | $80,360 | +2.2% | $60,786 | $46,030 – $139,380 | 1,040 |
| Idaho | $79,700 | +6.4% | $61,783 | $48,200 – $137,530 | 1,600 |
| Utah | $79,610 | +0.6% | $62,219 | $51,740 – $126,800 | 2,800 |
| New Hampshire | $79,560 | +2.4% | $64,800 | $51,640 – $129,030 | 980 |
| Delaware | $79,290 | +5.2% | $60,718 | $49,580 – $108,280 | 730 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,480 | +5.2% | $61,631 | $49,570 – $126,620 | 9,420 |
| Michigan | $77,990 | +2.5% | $60,632 | $46,660 – $125,520 | 6,960 |
| Ohio | $77,730 | +3.0% | $62,158 | $48,750 – $124,990 | 8,100 |
| West Virginia | $77,480 | +9.7% | $60,538 | $42,730 – $122,450 | 830 |
| Montana | $77,320 | +13.1% | $60,217 | $50,120 – $106,740 | 1,230 |
| Louisiana | $77,030 | +12.5% | $61,096 | $43,840 – $125,050 | 2,680 |
| Arizona | $77,010 | −2.9% | $61,290 | $37,440 – $127,880 | 5,760 |
| Texas | $76,980 | +2.7% | $62,985 | $45,760 – $132,310 | 20,760 |
| Georgia | $76,800 | +5.4% | $59,496 | $46,600 – $128,420 | 6,010 |
| Wisconsin | $76,270 | +6.1% | $59,824 | $50,890 – $111,530 | 5,150 |
| Kansas | $76,250 | +5.0% | $59,017 | $48,860 – $118,310 | 2,250 |
| Iowa | $76,040 | −0.3% | $60,086 | $48,740 – $118,410 | 1,870 |
| Missouri | $76,020 | +3.6% | $59,674 | $44,840 – $128,270 | 6,580 |
| Tennessee | $75,650 | +1.4% | $62,050 | $42,440 – $120,990 | 4,340 |
| Alabama | $74,990 | +10.2% | $58,101 | $42,400 – $118,160 | 3,000 |
| Florida | $74,990 | +4.3% | $61,585 | $44,200 – $128,050 | 13,720 |
| South Dakota | $74,950 | +3.1% | $61,557 | $57,110 – $129,560 | 1,030 |
| Kentucky | $74,880 | +7.8% | $59,005 | $46,410 – $119,530 | 1,960 |
| North Carolina | $74,730 | +3.5% | $58,930 | $43,580 – $123,240 | 8,030 |
| Maine | $74,080 | +1.4% | $57,127 | $41,450 – $123,040 | 760 |
| Indiana | $73,430 | +2.6% | $58,351 | $50,630 – $106,640 | 4,810 |
| North Dakota | $73,280 | +4.3% | $60,213 | $52,730 – $104,050 | 730 |
| Nebraska | $73,100 | +5.8% | $57,809 | $50,040 – $105,640 | 1,330 |
| Mississippi | $71,230 | +7.3% | $56,823 | $41,600 – $118,040 | 1,280 |
| South Carolina | $70,260 | +4.2% | $55,199 | $46,970 – $119,590 | 2,880 |
| Oklahoma | $67,800 | +6.3% | $54,022 | $42,700 – $104,750 | 1,860 |
| New Mexico | $67,590 | −2.1% | $54,369 | $38,960 – $109,610 | 900 |
| Arkansas | $61,470 | −2.2% | $49,387 | $38,480 – $110,040 | 1,400 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist | $78,760 | Bachelor's degree | +7.0% |
| Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | $78,240 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -8.7% |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.5% |
| Buyer and Purchasing Agent | $77,710 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 | Bachelor's degree | +3.8% |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | Bachelor's degree | +6.4% |
| Logistician | $82,320 | Bachelor's degree | +17.6% |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $82,890 | Bachelor's degree | +9.7% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | Bachelor's degree | +3.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make?
The national median salary for cost estimators is $78,740 a year ($37.86 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,530 and the top 10% earn over $130,820. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays cost estimators the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median pay at $100,840. After taxes and local prices, Boston, MA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many cost estimators are there in the U.S.?
About 224,220 people work as cost estimators nationwide.