Cost Estimators Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$49,200
- 25th Percentile — Junior$61,710
- 50th Percentile — Median$82,750
- 75th Percentile — Senior$108,240
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$136,590
Half of Cost Estimators in Illinois earn more than $82,750. The top 10% make $136,590 or more, while entry-level workers start around $49,200.
Cost Estimators in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 10th of 51 states for Cost Estimators pay, at $88,880 per year (4.1% above the U.S. average of $85,390).
- 5,990 people work as Cost Estimators in Illinois — 2.7% of all U.S. Cost Estimators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.68: Cost Estimators jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,200; the top 10% earn over $136,590.
- Hourly equivalent: $42.73 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Massachusetts at $104,770.
- Among business jobs in Illinois, Personal Financial Advisors pays the most ($158,450).
Cost Estimators Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Cost Estimators here earn $88,880 on average, placing the state 10th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $88,880 is roughly equivalent to $84,648 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($92,030), New Jersey ($89,600), New York ($89,450) are the closest alternatives for Cost Estimators weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Business Jobs in Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Personal Financial Advisors $158,450/yr Illinois +78.3% vs this role
- Management Analysts $114,410/yr Illinois +28.7% vs this role
- Project Management Specialists $111,230/yr Illinois +25.1% vs this role
- Financial and Investment Analysts $110,820/yr Illinois +24.7% vs this role
- Financial Examiners $106,400/yr Illinois +19.7% vs this role
- Credit Analysts $103,060/yr Illinois +16.0% vs this role
- Budget Analysts $94,430/yr Illinois +6.2% vs this role
- Business Operations Specialists All Other $89,910/yr Illinois +1.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Cost Estimators salary in Illinois?
The average Cost Estimators salary in Illinois is $88,880 per year (median $82,750), which is 4.1% above the national average of $85,390.
How does Illinois rank for Cost Estimators pay?
Illinois ranks 10th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Massachusetts ($104,770/yr).
How much do entry-level Cost Estimators make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Cost Estimators in Illinois earn about $49,200 per year and the 25th percentile is $61,710.
How much do Cost Estimators make per hour in Illinois?
About $42.73 per hour, based on the $88,880 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Cost Estimators work in Illinois?
BLS counts 5,990 Cost Estimators jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data