Cost Estimator Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Cost Estimators in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $80,850 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,873 take-home, or $5,156 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,957
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,013
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,172
- Virginia income tax$3,835
- Take-home pay$61,873
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,340 | $25.16 | $42,040 | $3,503 |
| 25th percentile | $63,430 | $30.50 | $50,313 | $4,193 |
| Median (50th) | $80,850 | $38.87 | $61,873 | $5,156 |
| 75th percentile | $100,250 | $48.20 | $74,406 | $6,200 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,420 | $58.86 | $88,715 | $7,393 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,850 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $61,873 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,174 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Virginia Beach, VA 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
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #41 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 |
| 41 | Virginia Beach, VA | $80,850 | $61,873 | $63,174 |
*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 Virginia
- Richmond, VA — $77,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median cost estimator salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $80,850 a year, or about $38.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,430 and $100,250.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $80,850 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $61,873 a year ($5,156 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,835 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,174 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #41 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 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 Virginia Beach, VA
- Project Management Specialist — $104,920
- Management Analyst — $101,380
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $95,170
- Logistician — $91,460
- Budget Analyst — $90,020
- Financial Specialists, All Other — $89,920
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $87,530
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,450
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $79,380
- Compliance Officer — $78,330
- Insurance Underwriter — $77,980
- Human Resources Specialist — $76,240