Cost Estimators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for cost estimators is $78,740, or $37.86 per hour. About 224,220 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $100,840 in Massachusetts to $61,470 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $100,840 | $48.48 | 4,520 | 0.86 |
| 2 | Alaska | $97,020 | $46.65 | 220 | 0.46 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $90,790 | $43.65 | 440 | 1.09 |
| 4 | Colorado | $86,940 | $41.80 | 6,100 | 1.47 |
| 5 | Washington | $86,070 | $41.38 | 7,470 | 1.46 |
| 6 | California | $85,460 | $41.09 | 26,020 | 0.99 |
| 7 | Illinois | $82,750 | $39.78 | 5,990 | 0.68 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $82,730 | $39.77 | 270 | 0.27 |
| 9 | Nevada | $82,200 | $39.52 | 2,240 | 1.00 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $81,990 | $39.42 | 590 | 0.82 |
| 11 | Vermont | $81,390 | $39.13 | 320 | 0.73 |
| 12 | Maryland | $81,190 | $39.03 | 4,580 | 1.15 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $81,030 | $38.96 | 2,350 | 0.96 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $80,810 | $38.85 | 4,310 | 1.01 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $80,570 | $38.74 | 5,240 | 0.85 |
| 16 | Virginia | $80,530 | $38.72 | 5,840 | 0.99 |
| 17 | Oregon | $80,460 | $38.68 | 2,940 | 1.04 |
| 18 | New York | $80,430 | $38.67 | 11,980 | 0.86 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $80,360 | $38.63 | 1,040 | 1.15 |
| 20 | Idaho | $79,700 | $38.32 | 1,600 | 1.30 |
| 21 | Utah | $79,610 | $38.27 | 2,800 | 1.12 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $79,560 | $38.25 | 980 | 0.99 |
| 23 | Delaware | $79,290 | $38.12 | 730 | 1.05 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $78,480 | $37.73 | 9,420 | 1.08 |
| 25 | Michigan | $77,990 | $37.50 | 6,960 | 1.10 |
| 26 | Ohio | $77,730 | $37.37 | 8,100 | 1.01 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $77,480 | $37.25 | 830 | 0.82 |
| 28 | Montana | $77,320 | $37.17 | 1,230 | 1.67 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $77,030 | $37.03 | 2,680 | 0.96 |
| 30 | Arizona | $77,010 | $37.02 | 5,760 | 1.23 |
| 31 | Texas | $76,980 | $37.01 | 20,760 | 1.02 |
| 32 | Georgia | $76,800 | $36.92 | 6,010 | 0.85 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $76,270 | $36.67 | 5,150 | 1.21 |
| 34 | Kansas | $76,250 | $36.66 | 2,250 | 1.09 |
| 35 | Iowa | $76,040 | $36.56 | 1,870 | 0.83 |
| 36 | Missouri | $76,020 | $36.55 | 6,580 | 1.55 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $75,650 | $36.37 | 4,340 | 0.92 |
| 38 | Florida | $74,990 | $36.05 | 13,720 | 0.96 |
| 39 | Alabama | $74,990 | $36.05 | 3,000 | 0.98 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $74,950 | $36.04 | 1,030 | 1.56 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $74,880 | $36.00 | 1,960 | 0.68 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $74,730 | $35.93 | 8,030 | 1.13 |
| 43 | Maine | $74,080 | $35.61 | 760 | 0.83 |
| 44 | Indiana | $73,430 | $35.30 | 4,810 | 1.04 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $73,280 | $35.23 | 730 | 1.18 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $73,100 | $35.14 | 1,330 | 0.90 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $71,230 | $34.24 | 1,280 | 0.76 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $70,260 | $33.78 | 2,880 | 0.87 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $67,800 | $32.59 | 1,860 | 0.76 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $67,590 | $32.50 | 900 | 0.72 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $61,470 | $29.55 | 1,400 | 0.75 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cost estimators make?
The median annual wage for cost estimators in the United States is $78,740, or $37.86 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $48,530, and the top 10% earn $130,820.
How many cost estimators are employed in the U.S.?
About 224,220 people work as cost estimators nationwide.
Which state pays cost estimators the most?
Massachusetts pays the most at a median of $100,840, followed by Alaska ($97,020) and Wyoming ($90,790).
Which state pays cost estimators the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $61,470.
Where are cost estimators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Montana at 1.67×.