Cost Estimator Salary in Boston, MA
Cost Estimators in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $102,640 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,125 take-home, or $6,344 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,751
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,364
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,488
- Massachusetts income tax$4,912
- Take-home pay$76,125
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,200 | $30.38 | $50,021 | $4,168 |
| 25th percentile | $77,980 | $37.49 | $60,010 | $5,001 |
| Median (50th) | $102,640 | $49.35 | $76,125 | $6,344 |
| 75th percentile | $129,530 | $62.27 | $93,543 | $7,795 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,200 | $75.58 | $111,072 | $9,256 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,640 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $76,125 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,313 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 less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #2 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 |
*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 Massachusetts
- Worcester, MA — $92,570
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Boston, MA?
The median cost estimator salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $102,640 a year, or about $49.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,980 and $129,530.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $102,640 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $76,125 a year ($6,344 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,912 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,313 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #2 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 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 Boston, MA
- Management Analyst — $135,640
- Financial Risk Specialist — $132,580
- Labor Relations Specialist — $118,520
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $117,520
- Project Management Specialist — $114,990
- Insurance Underwriter — $106,170
- Financial Examiner — $105,230
- Compliance Officer — $103,940
- Loan Officer — $103,400
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $102,390
- Credit Analyst — $101,890
- Logistician — $101,540