How much does a cost estimator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $37.86 an hour or $6,562 a month.
- Hourly
- $37.86
- Average (mean)
- $85,390
- Jobs
- 224,220
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,530 | $23.33 | |
| 25th | $61,150 | $29.40 | |
| Median | $78,740 | $37.86 | |
| 75th | $101,900 | $48.97 | |
| 90th | $130,800 | $62.89 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Massachusetts | $100,800 |
| Alaska | $97,020 |
| Wyoming | $90,790 |
| Colorado | $86,940 |
| Washington | $86,070 |
| California | $85,460 |
| Illinois | $82,750 |
| District of Columbia | $82,730 |
| Nevada | $82,200 |
| Rhode Island | $81,990 |
| Vermont | $81,390 |
| Maryland | $81,190 |
| Connecticut | $81,030 |
| Minnesota | $80,810 |
| New Jersey | $80,570 |
| Virginia | $80,530 |
| Oregon | $80,460 |
| New York | $80,430 |
| Hawaii | $80,360 |
| Idaho | $79,700 |
| Utah | $79,610 |
| New Hampshire | $79,560 |
| Delaware | $79,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,480 |
| Michigan | $77,990 |
| Ohio | $77,730 |
| West Virginia | $77,480 |
| Montana | $77,320 |
| Louisiana | $77,030 |
| Arizona | $77,010 |
| Texas | $76,980 |
| Georgia | $76,800 |
| Wisconsin | $76,270 |
| Kansas | $76,250 |
| Iowa | $76,040 |
| Missouri | $76,020 |
| Tennessee | $75,650 |
| Alabama | $74,990 |
| Florida | $74,990 |
| South Dakota | $74,950 |
| Kentucky | $74,880 |
| North Carolina | $74,730 |
| Maine | $74,080 |
| Indiana | $73,430 |
| North Dakota | $73,280 |
| Nebraska | $73,100 |
| Mississippi | $71,230 |
| South Carolina | $70,260 |
| Oklahoma | $67,800 |
| New Mexico | $67,590 |
| Arkansas | $61,470 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Boston, MA | $102,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $101,600 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $100,400 |
| San Jose, CA | $97,580 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $95,650 |
| Seattle, WA | $94,490 |
| Norwich, CT | $92,600 |
| Worcester, MA | $92,570 |
| Denver, CO | $89,820 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $89,540 |
| Washington, DC | $89,330 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $88,080 |
| Providence, RI | $87,720 |
| Kahului, HI | $87,670 |
| Greeley, CO | $87,350 |
In other countries
Cost Estimator belongs to the international group "Business services agents not elsewhere classified".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Agent and Business Managers of Artist$82,890
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent$77,710
- Claims Adjuster$78,000
- Insurance Appraiser$78,240
- Compliance Officer$80,730
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Farm Labor Contractor$58,460
- Labor Relations Specialist$95,420
- Logistician$82,320
- Project Management Specialist$102,300
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $37.86 ($78,740 a year).
How much does a cost estimator make a month?
About $6,562 a month before tax, based on a median of $78,740 a year.
How much does a cost estimator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $48,530 or less a year ($23.33 an hour); the top 10% make $130,800 or more.
Which state pays cost estimators the most?
Massachusetts, with a median of $100,800 a year, followed by Alaska ($97,020) and Wyoming ($90,790).
Which city pays cost estimators the most?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, with a median of $102,600 a year.
How many cost estimators are there in the United States?
About 224,220 people work as cost estimators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.