How to Become a Cost Estimator
Price the work before it happens: estimate what construction projects and products will cost to build. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $78,740 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$78,740/yr
Middle half
$61,150 to $101,850
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
16,900
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Cost Analysis
- Blueprint Reading
- Mathematics
- Bid Preparation
- Attention to Detail
Helpful certifications
- CPE (Certified Professional Estimator)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
62/100
Work-life balance
52/100
Stress level
44/100
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cost Estimator make?
The median pay for a Cost Estimator is $78,740 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $61,150 and $101,850 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Cost Estimator?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Construction Management, Engineering, Finance, and Accounting.
Is Cost Estimator a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 16,900 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Cost Estimator use most?
Common skills for this role are Cost Analysis, Blueprint Reading, Mathematics, Bid Preparation, and Attention to Detail.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).