Cost estimators
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Cost estimators in the United States earn a median salary of $78,740 per year — about $38 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 221K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -4%.
AI & Automation Risk
Cost estimation is a data-intensive, digital-first occupation centered on analyzing blueprints, technical documents, and historical databases to predict costs. AI and advanced software are already driving a projected decline in employment by automating routine calculations and simulations, though human oversight remains necessary for complex site-specific variables and high-stakes negotiations.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MABEST VALUE | $100,410 | Average (102.8) | $97,661 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $82,610 | Below avg (85.6) | $96,535 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $88,080 | Below avg (93.5) | $94,189 |
| Dubuque, IA | $82,940 | Below avg (89.1) | $93,129 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $102,640 | Above avg (110.4) | $92,977 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $84,710 | Below avg (91.2) | $92,850 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $89,540 | Average (97.3) | $92,017 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $92,600 | Average (100.7) | $91,961 |
| Casper, WY | $84,990 | Below avg (92.5) | $91,843 |
| Cheyenne, WY | $83,870 | Below avg (91.6) | $91,539 |
| Decatur, IL | $79,230 | Below avg (86.7) | $91,425 |
| Topeka, KS | $78,070 | Below avg (85.8) | $90,949 |
| Pueblo, CO | $84,580 | Below avg (93.0) | $90,944 |
| Helena, MT | $83,760 | Below avg (92.1) | $90,939 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $79,230 | Below avg (87.2) | $90,880 |