North Carolina Median
$74,730
per year
Hourly Rate
$35.93
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-5% vs US median
US median $78,740
State Rank
#42 of 51
8,030 employed here
How much does a Cost Estimator make in North Carolina?
Cost Estimators in North Carolina take home a median of $74,730 annually — roughly $35.93 an hour — which runs 5% below the national median of $78,740.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $43,580 while the top 10% make $123,240 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $57,680 and $94,320 a year.
Cost Estimator salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,580 | $20.95 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $57,680 | $27.73 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $74,730 | $35.93 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $94,320 | $45.35 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,240 | $59.25 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 42nd 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 $82,750District 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 $74,880Maine $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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina pay ($74,730) 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 North Carolina?
The median Cost Estimator salary in North Carolina is $74,730 per year, or about $35.93 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $43,580 at the entry level to $123,240 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Cost Estimators about 5% less than the national median of $78,740. North Carolina ranks 42nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Cost Estimators?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $74,730 a year. About 8,030 Cost Estimators are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), 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.