Cost Estimator Salary in Dallas, TX
Cost Estimators in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $79,290 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,611 take-home, or $5,384 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,614
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,916
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,150
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,611
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,950 | $23.05 | $40,708 | $3,392 |
| 25th percentile | $61,070 | $29.36 | $51,250 | $4,271 |
| Median (50th) | $79,290 | $38.12 | $64,611 | $5,384 |
| 75th percentile | $102,640 | $49.35 | $81,037 | $6,753 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,460 | $64.64 | $103,169 | $8,597 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,290 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $64,611 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,674 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 Dallas, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #48 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 |
| 48 | Dallas, TX | $79,290 | $64,611 | $62,674 |
*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
- Austin, TX — $78,650
- San Antonio, TX — $74,830
- Houston, TX — $78,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Dallas, TX?
The median cost estimator salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $79,290 a year, or about $38.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,070 and $102,640.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $79,290 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $64,611 a year ($5,384 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,674 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #48 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 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 Dallas, TX
- Financial Risk Specialist — $103,760
- Management Analyst — $102,860
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $100,350
- Project Management Specialist — $98,900
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents — $96,320
- Labor Relations Specialist — $95,550
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $83,600
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $82,890
- Budget Analyst — $82,790
- Accountant and Auditor — $82,620
- Credit Analyst — $80,530
- Financial Examiner — $79,980