Cost Estimator Salary in New Orleans, LA
Cost Estimators in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $81,170 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,884 take-home, or $5,324 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,027
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,033
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,177
- Louisiana income tax$2,049
- Take-home pay$63,884
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.00% state
Cost Estimator pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,210 | $22.70 | $39,083 | $3,257 |
| 25th percentile | $62,070 | $29.84 | $50,577 | $4,215 |
| Median (50th) | $81,170 | $39.02 | $63,884 | $5,324 |
| 75th percentile | $100,100 | $48.13 | $76,634 | $6,386 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,180 | $59.22 | $92,150 | $7,679 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,170 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $63,884 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,992 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 New Orleans, LA than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #3 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 Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, LA — $84,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in New Orleans, LA?
The median cost estimator salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $81,170 a year, or about $39.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,070 and $100,100.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $81,170 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $63,884 a year ($5,324 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,049 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,992 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #3 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- Management Analyst — $95,100
- Project Management Specialist — $85,410
- Logistician — $78,200
- Accountant and Auditor — $77,940
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $77,860
- Compliance Officer — $77,460
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $77,020
- Personal Financial Advisor — $74,990
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $73,920
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $71,960
- Financial Specialists, All Other — $70,110
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $65,590