Cost Estimator Salary 2025: $78,740 Median, Decline Ahead
The median cost estimator earns $78,740 per year, according to the latest BLS data. That works out to roughly $38 an hour, with the middle 80% earning between $48,530 and $130,820. The occupation employs 224,220 people nationally, but the outlook is shrinking.
How much Cost Estimators earn
The mean annual wage for cost estimators is $85,390, with the top 10% pulling in over $130,820. Entry-level estimators (10th percentile) start around $48,530. Most estimators work full-time in construction, manufacturing, or engineering firms.
Pay varies significantly by industry. For example, estimators in building construction earned a mean of $79,670, while those in oil and gas extraction averaged over $103,000. The federal government paid its estimators a mean of $95,560.
Pay by state
Location matters more than industry for cost estimator pay. Massachusetts tops the list at a mean $100,840, followed by Alaska ($97,020), Wyoming ($90,790), Colorado ($86,940), and Washington ($86,070). These states tend to have high construction activity or costly energy projects.
At the low end, Arkansas pays a mean $61,470, New Mexico $67,590, and Oklahoma $67,800. Southern and Plains states generally offer less, partly due to lower cost of living and less large-scale industrial work.
How to become Cost Estimator
Most cost estimators need a bachelor's degree, typically in engineering, construction management, mathematics, or a related field. Some construction firms hire estimators with an associate degree and strong field experience.
Certification can boost your resume. The American Society of Professional Estimators offers the Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) designation, and the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International grants the Certified Cost Professional (CCP) credential. Neither is mandatory, but employers value them.
Entry-level estimators often start as junior estimators or in related roles like scheduling or quantity takeoff. On-the-job training lasts 6 to 12 months. State licensing is rare, but general contractor licenses may require experience as an estimator.
- Earn a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or math.
- Gain experience through internships or entry-level positions in construction or manufacturing.
- Consider certification: CPE or CCP, which require 4+ years of experience and an exam.
- Learn software like Bluebeam, PlanSwift, or RSMeans, plus Excel.
Job outlook
Employment of cost estimators is projected to decline 4.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 16,900 openings each year due to replacement needs. That is a sharper drop than the average occupation, which grows about 4%.
Automation and software improvements are reducing the need for some manual cost-estimating tasks, especially in manufacturing. However, construction estimators will still be needed for complex projects where judgment and site-specific knowledge matter. The best prospects will be estimators with strong technical skills and industry-specific experience.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-paying state for cost estimators?
Massachusetts pays cost estimators the most, with a mean annual wage of $100,840.
Do cost estimators need a degree?
Most employers require a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field. Some accept an associate degree with experience.
Is cost estimator a declining job?
Yes, BLS projects a -4.2% decline from 2024 to 2034, due to automation and software advances, but about 16,900 openings per year from workers leaving the field.
What is the typical salary range for cost estimators?
The 10th percentile earns $48,530, the median $78,740, and the 90th percentile $130,820, according to the BLS.
Salary figures are U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates (OEWS / Employment Projections). For informational purposes only; not career or financial advice. See the full Cost Estimators data.