Cost Estimator Salary in Austin, TX
Cost Estimators in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median $78,650 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,160 take-home, or $5,347 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Austin, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,473
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,876
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,140
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,160
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Austin, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,670 | $23.40 | $41,286 | $3,441 |
| 25th percentile | $62,440 | $30.02 | $52,351 | $4,363 |
| Median (50th) | $78,650 | $37.81 | $64,160 | $5,347 |
| 75th percentile | $104,870 | $50.42 | $82,606 | $6,884 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,230 | $64.53 | $103,012 | $8,584 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,650 buys in Austin, TX
Prices in Austin, TX are 1.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $64,160 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,426 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 Austin, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Austin, TX ranks #21 of 90 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $84,710 | $66,268 | $72,999 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $102,640 | $76,125 | $70,313 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $81,170 | $63,884 | $68,992 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $76,130 | $62,387 | $68,837 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $81,300 | $66,025 | $68,534 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $76,660 | $62,760 | $68,085 |
| 7 | Dayton, OH | $79,020 | $63,030 | $67,998 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $92,570 | $69,544 | $67,833 |
| 21 | Austin, TX | $78,650 | $64,160 | $65,426 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 90 metros →
Cost Estimator salaries elsewhere in Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $74,830
- Houston, TX — $78,200
- Dallas, TX — $79,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Austin, TX?
The median cost estimator salary in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $78,650 a year, or about $37.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,440 and $104,870.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Austin, TX?
On the median $78,650 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $64,160 a year ($5,347 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 1.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,426 would in a typical U.S. city. Austin, TX ranks #21 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Austin, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Austin, TX is $1,562 a month ($1,852 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Austin, TX
- Management Analyst — $106,600
- Project Management Specialist — $102,390
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $101,530
- Personal Financial Advisor — $95,990
- Accountant and Auditor — $83,120
- Budget Analyst — $81,720
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $80,460
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $79,490
- Logistician — $78,460
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $77,150
- Insurance Underwriter — $75,910
- Human Resources Specialist — $75,860