Civil Engineer
Median wage · national
$100,840
Range: $80K – $130K
Employed
368K
Openings/yr
23K
Typically: bachelor's degree
STEM
Cost Estimators
Cost Estimators earn $78,740 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $61,150 and $101,850. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Cost Estimators
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a cost estimators: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Business Administration and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $78,740
- Employed Nationally
- 224K
- Openings / Year
- 17,600
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Acquisition Cost Estimator
Analyst
Building Construction Estimator
Building Estimator
Civil Estimator
How Much Do Cost Estimators Make?
Most cost estimators take home around $78,740 a year, above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $61,150 and $101,850, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$78,740
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$61K–$102K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$61,150
Entry-level
$78,740
Median
$101,850
Experienced
What Do Cost Estimators Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
- Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
- Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
- Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
- Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Mathematics
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Who Thrives Here
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Where Do Cost Estimators Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Cost Estimators?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by -3.1%, meaning it is shrinking, so expect more competition for fewer roles. Around 17,600 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↘ -3.1%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Declining employment projected.
17,600
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
224K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Cost Estimators professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $78,740 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 26,020 | $85,460 | +8.5% |
| 2 | Texas | 20,760 | $76,980 | -2.2% |
| 3 | Florida | 13,720 | $74,990 | -4.8% |
| 4 | New York | 11,980 | $80,430 | +2.1% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 9,420 | $78,480 | -0.3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 7 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Business program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Administration | 395,227 | $68,257 | 2,611 |
| 2 | Business | 57,204 | $68,407 | 933 |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineering | 43,522 | $92,135 | 441 |
| 4 | Construction Engineering Tech | 4,771 | $93,843 | 164 |
| 5 | Materials Engineering | 3,397 | $91,449 | 115 |
| 6 | Construction Engineering | 1,284 | $97,303 | 54 |
| 7 | Manufacturing Engineering | 942 | $88,451 | 85 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Cost Estimators
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 5 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 6 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Cost Estimators, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Cost Estimators pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Cost Estimators Pros & Cons
Cost Estimators has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 3 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $78,740 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $101,850 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Wide job market 224K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
- Declining employment The BLS projects -3.1% employment change through 2035. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $78,740 median while building the experience employers require.
Cost Estimators Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Cost Estimators professionals earn?
Around $78,740 a year for the typical worker, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,150 and $101,850. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Cost Estimators a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -3.1% employment change through 2035. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $78,740 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How long does it take to work as Cost Estimators?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Business Administration are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $78,740 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Why are Cost Estimators jobs declining?
The BLS projects -3.1% employment change for Cost Estimators through 2035. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 17,600 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 224K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
What skills do Cost Estimators professionals need?
Mainly Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Speaking, Critical Thinking, and Active Listening. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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