District of Columbia Median
$82,730
per year
Hourly Rate
$39.77
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+5% vs US median
US median $78,740
State Rank
#8 of 51
270 employed here
How much does a Cost Estimator make in District of Columbia?
A Cost Estimator working in District of Columbia earns a median salary of $82,730 per year, or about $39.77 per hour. That is 5% above the national median of $78,740 for this occupation.
Within District of Columbia, entry-level pay starts around $66,720 while the top 10% make $127,520 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $82,220 and $101,420 a year.
Cost Estimator salary range in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,720 | $32.08 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $82,220 | $39.53 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $82,730 | $39.77 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $101,420 | $48.76 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,520 | $61.31 |
|
How District of Columbia compares
District of Columbia ranks 8th 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 $86,070California $85,460Illinois $82,750Nevada $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 District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia pay ($82,730) 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 District of Columbia?
The median Cost Estimator salary in District of Columbia is $82,730 per year, or about $39.77 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $66,720 at the entry level to $127,520 for the top 10% of earners.
How does District of Columbia pay compare to the national average?
District of Columbia pays Cost Estimators about 5% more than the national median of $78,740. District of Columbia ranks 8th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is District of Columbia a good state for Cost Estimators?
Yes on pay — District of Columbia pays above the national median for this occupation, at $82,730 a year. About 270 Cost Estimators are employed in District of Columbia. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in District of Columbia?
The highest-paying occupations in District of Columbia include Neurologist ($332,000), Emergency Medicine Physician ($318,200), Podiatrist ($265,740), 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.