Median Salary
$78,740
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$37.86
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$130,820
entry level starts ~$48,530
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 224,000 employed
How much does a Cost Estimator make?
The median pay for a Cost Estimator in the United States is $78,740 per year — about $37.86 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $48,530, while the most experienced Cost Estimators in the top 10% earn $130,820.
That is $17,350 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Cost Estimator salary range by percentile
Half of all Cost Estimators earn between $61,150 and $101,850 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,530 | $23.33 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $61,150 | $29.40 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $78,740 | $37.86 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $101,850 | $48.97 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,820 | $62.89 |
|
Highest-paying states for Cost Estimator
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Massachusetts leads the country for Cost Estimator pay at $100,840 a year, followed by Alaska ($97,020) and Wyoming ($90,790). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $61,470 — a gap of $39,370 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Cost Estimator salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $74,880North Carolina $74,730Maine $74,080Indiana $73,430North Dakota $73,280Nebraska $73,100Mississippi $71,230South Carolina $70,260Oklahoma $67,800New Mexico $67,590Arkansas $61,470
Workforce and education
About 224,000 people work as Cost Estimators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $85,390 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cost Estimator make in the United States?
The median Cost Estimator salary in the United States is $78,740 per year, or about $37.86 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $48,530, while the top 10% of earners make $130,820 or more.
How does Cost Estimator pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Cost Estimator median of $78,740 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Cost Estimators the most?
Massachusetts is the highest-paying state for Cost Estimators, with a median salary of $100,840 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Cost Estimator?
Becoming a Cost Estimator typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Cost Estimators work in the United States?
About 224,000 people were employed as Cost Estimators in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.