Cost estimators
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Cost Estimators: Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.
Cost estimators held about 198,000 jobs in 2004. About 58 percent of estimators were in the construction industry, and another 17 percent were employed in manufacturing. The remainder worked in a wide range of other industries.
Cost estimators work throughout the country, usually in or near major industrial, commercial, and government centers and in cities and suburban areas undergoing rapid change or development.
Salaries of cost estimators vary widely by experience, education, size of firm, and industry. Median annual earnings of cost estimators in May 2004 were $49,940. The middle 50 percent earned between $38,420 and $65,620. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,240, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $84,870. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of cost estimators in May 2004 were:
| Nonresidential building construction | $56,570 |
| Building equipment contractors | 53,310 |
| Residential building construction | 49,830 |
| Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors | 49,500 |
| Building finishing contractors | 47,980 |
College graduates with degrees in fields that provide a strong background in cost estimating, such as engineering or construction management, could start at a higher level. According to a July 2005 salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, those with bachelor’s degrees in construction science/management received job offers averaging $42,923 a year.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Cost Estimators)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Cost estimators | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 270 mean earnings: $55,580 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,590 | $42,620 | $50,920 | $64,880 | $88,780 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 80 mean earnings: $57,460 | $37,480 | $46,380 | $51,570 | $56,780 | $87,430 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 180 mean earnings: $53,900 | $27,230 | $40,550 | $49,940 | $65,920 | $88,100 |
| Utilities employment: 760 mean earnings: $63,630 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,230 | $50,360 | $62,980 | $74,260 | $90,210 |
| Utilities employment: 760 mean earnings: $63,630 | $40,230 | $50,360 | $62,980 | $74,260 | $90,210 |
| Construction employment: 126,010 mean earnings: $58,110 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,160 | $41,520 | $53,960 | $70,610 | $89,440 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 36,770 mean earnings: $59,600 | $33,090 | $42,370 | $55,720 | $73,060 | $90,870 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 11,910 mean earnings: $61,950 | $35,710 | $44,760 | $57,420 | $75,710 | $95,070 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 77,330 mean earnings: $56,810 | $31,360 | $40,700 | $52,740 | $68,720 | $87,570 |
| Manufacturing employment: 31,810 mean earnings: $51,950 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,700 | $38,460 | $48,840 | $62,010 | $78,750 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 120 mean earnings: $52,550 | $30,770 | $39,990 | $52,070 | $63,510 | $72,810 |
| Textile Mills employment: 60 mean earnings: $49,200 | $26,900 | $37,150 | $49,640 | $61,710 | $72,180 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 100 mean earnings: $52,140 | $27,610 | $38,530 | $49,950 | $58,720 | $87,040 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $52,480 | $35,160 | $40,200 | $47,120 | $65,970 | $72,510 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 1,840 mean earnings: $45,570 | $26,380 | $32,870 | $42,730 | $54,140 | $68,300 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 1,020 mean earnings: $48,260 | $31,280 | $37,320 | $45,500 | $57,080 | $69,520 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 5,710 mean earnings: $46,910 | $29,180 | $36,110 | $44,810 | $54,980 | $68,710 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $57,090 | $33,840 | $42,740 | $56,260 | $69,860 | $83,860 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 240 mean earnings: $55,190 | $30,250 | $40,350 | $52,950 | $67,880 | $84,730 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 400 mean earnings: $53,160 | $33,060 | $40,170 | $51,230 | $64,560 | $72,590 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 570 mean earnings: $47,570 | $27,390 | $35,460 | $44,280 | $55,930 | $71,260 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 360 mean earnings: $49,530 | $34,510 | $39,230 | $45,470 | $56,840 | $75,090 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 9,820 mean earnings: $51,630 | $31,040 | $38,310 | $48,720 | $61,820 | $77,830 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 3,670 mean earnings: $58,000 | $34,730 | $42,290 | $52,850 | $67,440 | $87,270 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 1,650 mean earnings: $60,450 | $34,810 | $44,110 | $58,170 | $75,960 | $90,550 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 290 mean earnings: $49,760 | $31,900 | $37,720 | $44,130 | $59,810 | $75,690 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 3,150 mean earnings: $60,560 | $38,040 | $47,360 | $58,420 | $73,090 | $88,140 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 2,280 mean earnings: $47,250 | $29,660 | $36,160 | $45,030 | $55,120 | $68,450 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 410 mean earnings: $45,150 | $24,440 | $29,430 | $41,880 | $53,470 | $70,870 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 5,500 mean earnings: $53,120 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,470 | $38,320 | $45,670 | $61,790 | $80,610 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 3,520 mean earnings: $54,290 | $31,080 | $38,490 | $48,490 | $64,240 | $81,690 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 500 mean earnings: $50,260 | $29,770 | $32,930 | $45,250 | $60,280 | $80,830 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 1,480 mean earnings: $51,290 | $36,450 | $39,000 | $43,260 | $54,970 | $76,270 |
| Retail Trade employment: 8,620 mean earnings: $48,130 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,170 | $33,770 | $44,270 | $57,970 | $74,770 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 2,860 mean earnings: $49,720 | $27,610 | $34,920 | $46,500 | $60,970 | $78,450 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 1,610 mean earnings: $51,100 | $30,800 | $39,090 | $47,260 | $62,100 | $77,130 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 50 mean earnings: $54,900 | $34,510 | $39,900 | $49,760 | $65,730 | $94,470 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 3,960 mean earnings: $45,810 | $26,060 | $31,840 | $41,150 | $54,560 | $71,120 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: n.a. mean earnings: $31,740 | $19,840 | $22,360 | $31,570 | $34,750 | $49,280 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 30 mean earnings: $44,420 | $28,190 | $32,180 | $44,190 | $55,950 | $64,970 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 60 mean earnings: $54,410 | $27,980 | $47,430 | $53,750 | $60,540 | $69,110 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 1,990 mean earnings: $49,230 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,010 | $34,480 | $44,080 | $60,690 | $76,410 |
| Air Transportation employment: 30 mean earnings: $60,320 | $40,380 | $45,780 | $60,860 | $74,500 | $85,760 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 1,550 mean earnings: $48,390 | $28,670 | $34,070 | $43,240 | $59,470 | $74,910 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 240 mean earnings: $55,400 | $31,720 | $37,550 | $49,650 | $68,640 | $93,460 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 100 mean earnings: $42,230 | $25,080 | $29,830 | $39,570 | $53,220 | $63,940 |
| Information employment: 630 mean earnings: $62,110 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,800 | $46,680 | $60,880 | $75,830 | $90,430 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 160 mean earnings: $54,890 | $31,990 | $38,660 | $51,870 | $69,300 | $84,940 |
| Telecommunications employment: 330 mean earnings: $66,330 | $41,050 | $52,320 | $65,590 | $80,150 | $91,860 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 90 mean earnings: $63,860 | $38,670 | $46,980 | $60,860 | $78,810 | $95,230 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 1,170 mean earnings: $58,410 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,300 | $44,130 | $55,390 | $70,010 | $87,550 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 60 mean earnings: $56,460 | $37,330 | $43,310 | $54,360 | $66,920 | $81,980 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 50 mean earnings: $67,890 | $42,220 | $51,260 | $69,090 | $84,900 | $93,430 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 1,060 mean earnings: $58,000 | $35,880 | $43,870 | $55,020 | $69,340 | $86,840 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 630 mean earnings: $52,720 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,730 | $38,780 | $47,880 | $60,960 | $86,170 |
| Real Estate employment: 460 mean earnings: $52,770 | $31,480 | $37,540 | $48,070 | $61,460 | $87,670 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: n.a. mean earnings: $54,360 | $38,660 | $42,770 | $49,110 | $63,000 | $84,800 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 7,380 mean earnings: $62,290 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,130 | $44,450 | $58,550 | $75,550 | $95,430 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 7,380 mean earnings: $62,290 | $35,130 | $44,450 | $58,550 | $75,550 | $95,430 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 2,360 mean earnings: $60,550 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,730 | $41,200 | $55,870 | $75,210 | $93,950 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 2,360 mean earnings: $60,550 | $32,730 | $41,200 | $55,870 | $75,210 | $93,950 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 5,390 mean earnings: $53,560 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,060 | $38,490 | $49,780 | $66,360 | $83,170 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 4,010 mean earnings: $51,050 | $28,520 | $36,950 | $46,460 | $62,810 | $80,600 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 1,390 mean earnings: $60,800 | $37,100 | $44,730 | $58,920 | $72,190 | $88,690 |
| Educational Services employment: 230 mean earnings: $54,030 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,590 | $41,430 | $51,370 | $62,040 | $77,790 |
| Educational Services employment: 230 mean earnings: $54,030 | $33,590 | $41,430 | $51,370 | $62,040 | $77,790 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 200 mean earnings: $48,820 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,700 | $33,360 | $47,710 | $62,060 | $77,200 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 40 mean earnings: $59,660 | $33,520 | $48,930 | $62,200 | $72,070 | $84,800 |
| Hospitals employment: 70 mean earnings: $56,190 | $38,290 | $46,140 | $53,550 | $66,060 | $82,330 |
| Social Assistance employment: 90 mean earnings: $36,990 | $20,560 | $28,860 | $33,200 | $43,940 | $58,410 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 40 mean earnings: $62,010 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,180 | $46,390 | $59,020 | $76,270 | $92,240 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 10,620 mean earnings: $46,960 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,600 | $34,300 | $44,490 | $56,350 | $71,540 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 10,470 mean earnings: $46,960 | $26,560 | $34,230 | $44,530 | $56,340 | $71,560 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: n.a. mean earnings: $50,720 | $28,000 | $35,310 | $52,070 | $64,620 | $73,650 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 670 mean earnings: $55,330 (def) (IG) | $36,200 | $43,060 | $54,270 | $66,440 | $78,210 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 670 mean earnings: $55,330 | $36,200 | $43,060 | $54,270 | $66,440 | $78,210 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.