Cost Estimator Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Cost Estimators in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $77,590 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,684 take-home, or $5,140 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,240
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,811
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,125
- Arizona income tax$1,731
- Take-home pay$61,684
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.50% state
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 | $31,536 | $2,628 |
| 25th percentile | $59,820 | $28.76 | $48,959 | $4,080 |
| Median (50th) | $77,590 | $37.30 | $61,684 | $5,140 |
| 75th percentile | $101,390 | $48.75 | $77,832 | $6,486 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,970 | $62.00 | $96,401 | $8,033 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,590 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $61,684 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,704 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Phoenix, AZ has 1.3× the national concentration of cost estimator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #72 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 |
| 72 | Phoenix, AZ | $77,590 | $61,684 | $59,704 |
*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 Arizona
- Tucson, AZ — $73,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median cost estimator salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $77,590 a year, or about $37.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,820 and $101,390.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $77,590 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $61,684 a year ($5,140 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,731 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,704 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #72 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- Personal Financial Advisor — $103,680
- Financial Risk Specialist — $101,990
- Project Management Specialist — $100,780
- Labor Relations Specialist — $97,070
- Management Analyst — $94,900
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $94,700
- Budget Analyst — $84,810
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $84,190
- Financial Specialists, All Other — $81,440
- Accountant and Auditor — $80,820
- Financial Examiner — $80,490
- Logistician — $79,370