Cost Estimator Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Cost Estimators in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $79,880 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,573 take-home, or $5,214 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,744
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,953
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,158
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,452
- Take-home pay$62,573
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,190 | $26.53 | $44,831 | $3,736 |
| 25th percentile | $63,920 | $30.73 | $51,577 | $4,298 |
| Median (50th) | $79,880 | $38.40 | $62,573 | $5,214 |
| 75th percentile | $102,660 | $49.36 | $77,900 | $6,492 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,320 | $63.13 | $96,992 | $8,083 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,880 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $62,573 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,015 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #63 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 |
| 63 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,880 | $62,573 | $61,015 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- York, PA — $80,170
- Pittsburgh, PA — $77,980
- Harrisburg, PA — $78,060
- Lancaster, PA — $77,450
- Allentown, PA — $76,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median cost estimator salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $79,880 a year, or about $38.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,920 and $102,660.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $79,880 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $62,573 a year ($5,214 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,452 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,015 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #63 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 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 Philadelphia, PA
- Financial Risk Specialist — $130,880
- Personal Financial Advisor — $116,560
- Project Management Specialist — $104,160
- Management Analyst — $100,920
- Labor Relations Specialist — $99,840
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $95,400
- Budget Analyst — $93,600
- Credit Analyst — $92,460
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $86,900
- Logistician — $86,900
- Accountant and Auditor — $85,990
- Financial Specialists, All Other — $84,680