Cost Estimator Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Cost Estimators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $82,260 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,210 take-home, or $5,184 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,267
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,100
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,193
- California income tax$3,421
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,069
- Take-home pay$62,210
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,220 | $24.63 | $41,547 | $3,462 |
| 25th percentile | $63,680 | $30.62 | $50,637 | $4,220 |
| Median (50th) | $82,260 | $39.55 | $62,210 | $5,184 |
| 75th percentile | $108,100 | $51.97 | $77,649 | $6,471 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,390 | $67.50 | $96,571 | $8,048 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,260 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $62,210 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,779 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #88 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 |
| 88 | Los Angeles, CA | $82,260 | $62,210 | $54,779 |
*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 California
- Santa Rosa, CA — $95,650
- San Jose, CA — $97,580
- San Francisco, CA — $101,630
- Fresno, CA — $84,140
- Sacramento, CA — $83,190
- Stockton, CA — $81,380
- San Diego, CA — $87,170
- Riverside, CA — $76,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median cost estimator salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $82,260 a year, or about $39.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,680 and $108,100.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $82,260 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $62,210 a year ($5,184 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,490 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,779 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #88 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Personal Financial Advisor — $124,490
- Financial Risk Specialist — $113,230
- Project Management Specialist — $108,310
- Financial Examiner — $106,000
- Management Analyst — $104,930
- Labor Relations Specialist — $102,980
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $102,260
- Insurance Underwriter — $97,870
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes — $97,750
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents — $97,680
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists — $97,310
- Budget Analyst — $96,870