California Median
$85,460
per year
Hourly Rate
$41.09
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+9% vs US median
US median $78,740
State Rank
#6 of 51
26,020 employed here
How much does a Cost Estimator make in California?
Cost Estimators in California take home a median of $85,460 annually — roughly $41.09 an hour — which runs 9% above the national median of $78,740.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $51,750 while the top 10% make $150,790 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $65,690 and $118,060 a year.
Cost Estimator salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,750 | $24.88 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $65,690 | $31.58 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $85,460 | $41.09 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $118,060 | $56.76 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,790 | $72.50 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories for Cost Estimator pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Cost Estimator salary in other states
Massachusetts $100,840Alaska $97,020Wyoming $90,790Colorado $86,940Washington $86,070Illinois $82,750District of Columbia $82,730Nevada $82,200Rhode Island $81,990Vermont $81,390Maryland $81,190Connecticut $81,030Minnesota $80,810New Jersey $80,570Virginia $80,530Oregon $80,460New York $80,430Hawaii $80,360Idaho $79,700Utah $79,610New Hampshire $79,560Delaware $79,290Pennsylvania $78,480Michigan $77,990Ohio $77,730West Virginia $77,480Montana $77,320Louisiana $77,030Arizona $77,010Texas $76,980Georgia $76,800Wisconsin $76,270Kansas $76,250Iowa $76,040Missouri $76,020Tennessee $75,650Alabama $74,990Florida $74,990South Dakota $74,950Kentucky $74,880North Carolina $74,730Maine $74,080Indiana $73,430North Dakota $73,280Nebraska $73,100Mississippi $71,230South Carolina $70,260Oklahoma $67,800New Mexico $67,590Arkansas $61,470
Working as a Cost Estimator in California
Nationally, about 224,000 people work as Cost Estimators in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($85,460) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cost Estimator make in California?
The median Cost Estimator salary in California is $85,460 per year, or about $41.09 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $51,750 at the entry level to $150,790 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Cost Estimators about 9% more than the national median of $78,740. California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Cost Estimators?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $85,460 a year. About 26,020 Cost Estimators are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Cost Estimator salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.