Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Cost estimators focus on analyzing and projecting the costs involved in projects or initiatives, drawing heavily on mathematics, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving. Nationally, there are about 221,000 jobs in this field, indicating a sizable profession with established employment. The national median salary of $77,070 places this role in a solid earning range, with some states and metro areas offering notably higher pay. The work typically involves using computers and information technology, written and verbal communication skills, and project management abilities. Creativity, innovation, and leadership also appear in the core skill set, suggesting opportunities to contribute ideas and guide work efforts. While projected national employment growth is -4.2%, there are still an estimated 17,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing turnover and hiring needs. For people who enjoy quantitative work, decision making, and structured analysis, cost estimating can offer a professional path with clear skill demands and diverse geographic options.
The national median annual salary for cost estimators is $77,070, but pay varies by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts shows the highest median salary at $100,840, followed by Colorado at $86,940, Washington at $86,070, and California at $85,460. New York’s median of $80,430 is close to the national figure. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA stand out with median salaries of $102,640 and $101,630, respectively. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA also offers a high median salary of $97,580, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV averages $89,330. These figures show that earnings potential can be substantially higher than the national median in certain states and metro areas, giving cost estimators room to target locations that align with their salary goals, opportunity scores, and other personal priorities.
Cost estimators currently account for about 221,000 jobs nationally, reflecting a well-established occupation. The projected employment growth rate is -4.2%, indicating that overall employment is expected to decline. However, the field still has an estimated 17,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that, despite the projected decrease in total jobs, there will be ongoing demand to replace workers who retire, change careers, or move into other roles. People considering this path should recognize that growth is not projected to be positive, so competition for roles may reflect a changing employment landscape. At the same time, the absolute number of jobs and annual openings indicates continued hiring activity. Candidates who build strong capabilities in mathematics, project management, analytical thinking, and decision making may be better positioned to pursue the available opportunities within this field over time.
Location makes a meaningful difference for cost estimators, both in terms of salary and concentration of jobs. Among states with high CareerGPS opportunity scores, California combines a relatively high median salary of $85,460 with the largest listed employment level at 26,020. New York and Washington also show sizable employment at 11,980 and 7,470, with median salaries of $80,430 and $86,070. Massachusetts has fewer jobs at 4,520 but the highest state-level median salary in this group at $100,840. Colorado offers 6,100 jobs and a median of $86,940. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stands out by combining an opportunity score of 77.27 with 11,610 jobs. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA feature high salaries—$97,580 and $101,630—while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH leads metro salaries at $102,640. These differences allow job seekers to weigh higher pay, larger job markets, and opportunity scores when choosing where to focus a search.
The typical education level for cost estimators is a bachelor’s degree, which aligns with the role’s emphasis on analytical and quantitative skills. Mathematics and science form a strong foundation for interpreting data and developing cost estimates. Project management, problem solving, and decision making are central to organizing work and reaching sound conclusions. The occupation also relies on computers and information technology, indicating that comfort with digital tools and systems is important. Writing and reading, along with speaking and listening, support the communication needed to document estimates and collaborate with others. Critical and analytical thinking, creativity and innovation, and leadership round out the skill profile, suggesting opportunities to take initiative and guide aspects of the work. Students and career changers can use this mix of skills as a roadmap when selecting bachelor’s programs or professional development options that strengthen quantitative analysis, communication, and organizational capabilities for success in cost estimating.
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