Cost Estimator Salary in Houston, TX
Cost Estimators in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $78,200 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,844 take-home, or $5,320 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,374
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,848
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,134
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$63,844
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,800 | $21.54 | $38,177 | $3,181 |
| 25th percentile | $59,930 | $28.81 | $50,334 | $4,194 |
| Median (50th) | $78,200 | $37.60 | $63,844 | $5,320 |
| 75th percentile | $101,710 | $48.90 | $80,383 | $6,699 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,450 | $63.68 | $101,796 | $8,483 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,200 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $63,844 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,731 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #31 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 |
| 31 | Houston, TX | $78,200 | $63,844 | $64,731 |
*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
- Dallas, TX — $79,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Houston, TX?
The median cost estimator salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $78,200 a year, or about $37.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,930 and $101,710.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $78,200 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $63,844 a year ($5,320 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,731 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #31 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents — $102,190
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $101,660
- Financial Risk Specialist — $101,200
- Management Analyst — $101,120
- Project Management Specialist — $99,510
- Personal Financial Advisor — $98,930
- Budget Analyst — $98,330
- Accountant and Auditor — $85,090
- Labor Relations Specialist — $85,090
- Financial Examiner — $82,990
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $82,060
- Credit Analyst — $79,280