Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$48,530
- 25th Percentile — Junior$61,150
- 50th Percentile — Median$78,740
- 75th Percentile — Senior$101,850
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$130,820
The top 10% of Cost Estimators earn $130,820 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $48,530, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $104,770 | +22.7% |
| Alaska | $101,890 | +19.3% |
| Colorado | $95,040 | +11.3% |
| California | $94,780 | +11.0% |
| Washington | $94,250 | +10.4% |
| District of Columbia | $92,030 | +7.8% |
| New Jersey | $89,600 | +4.9% |
| New York | $89,450 | +4.8% |
| Nevada | $88,930 | +4.1% |
| Illinois | $88,880 | +4.1% |
| Oregon | $88,810 | +4.0% |
| Rhode Island | $88,260 | +3.4% |
| Wyoming | $88,240 | +3.3% |
| Connecticut | $88,170 | +3.3% |
| Idaho | $87,770 | +2.8% |
| Maryland | $87,770 | +2.8% |
| Hawaii | $87,120 | +2.0% |
| Virginia | $86,110 | +0.8% |
| New Hampshire | $85,650 | +0.3% |
| Utah | $85,510 | +0.1% |
| Vermont | $85,430 | +0.0% |
| Minnesota | $85,290 | -0.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $83,890 | -1.8% |
| Texas | $83,780 | -1.9% |
| Ohio | $82,740 | -3.1% |
| Michigan | $82,600 | -3.3% |
| Arizona | $81,990 | -4.0% |
| Georgia | $81,220 | -4.9% |
| Missouri | $81,220 | -4.9% |
| Florida | $81,130 | -5.0% |
| Kansas | $80,750 | -5.4% |
| Louisiana | $80,280 | -6.0% |
| Tennessee | $79,960 | -6.4% |
| Delaware | $79,200 | -7.2% |
| South Dakota | $79,200 | -7.2% |
| Kentucky | $78,920 | -7.6% |
| Wisconsin | $78,830 | -7.7% |
| Montana | $78,490 | -8.1% |
| Iowa | $78,310 | -8.3% |
| North Carolina | $78,060 | -8.6% |
| North Dakota | $77,540 | -9.2% |
| Alabama | $77,050 | -9.8% |
| South Carolina | $77,050 | -9.8% |
| Maine | $77,020 | -9.8% |
| West Virginia | $76,980 | -9.8% |
| Indiana | $76,200 | -10.8% |
| Nebraska | $75,840 | -11.2% |
| Mississippi | $74,850 | -12.3% |
| Oklahoma | $72,680 | -14.9% |
| New Mexico | $71,890 | -15.8% |
| Arkansas | $69,300 | -18.8% |
What Factors Affect Cost Estimators Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Cost Estimators is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Massachusetts pays an average of $104,770, while Arkansas pays $69,300 — a gap of $35,470 per year.
The middle half of Cost Estimators earn between $61,150 and $101,850 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,530, while the top 10% earn more than $130,820.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Cost Estimators?
The average salary for Cost Estimators in the United States is $85,390 per year, with a median of $78,740.
What is the starting salary for Cost Estimators?
Entry-level Cost Estimators typically earn between $48,530 and $61,150 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Cost Estimators the most?
Massachusetts pays Cost Estimators the most at $104,770 per year on average, followed by Alaska ($101,890) and Colorado ($95,040).
How much do Cost Estimators make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $85,390, Cost Estimators earn approximately $41.05 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Cost Estimators a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 224,220 Cost Estimators jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $85,390 and a median of $78,740 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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