Construction Manager
Plan, budget and run construction projects from groundbreaking to final inspection.
- $114,990
- 4 years plus field experience
Skilled Trades & Construction career
Cost Estimator
Also called: Construction Estimator · Estimator · Quantity Surveyor · Preconstruction Manager
What cost estimators do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a cost estimator do?
Cost estimators collect and analyze data to estimate the time, money, materials and labor required to manufacture a product, construct a building or provide a service. The median pay is $78,740 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Moderate on-the-job training, and employment is projected to grow -3.1% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$78,740$37.86/hour · May 2025
- Job growth-3.1%2025–35, a projected decline
- Openings per year17,600Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to trainModerate on-the-job trainingTypical program length
- U.S. jobs226,400Employment, 2025
What cost estimators do
Cost estimators put numbers on projects. They read plans, take off quantities of materials, price labor and equipment, get subcontractor bids, add overhead and risk, and help contractors win bids and stay on budget.
BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical, though many estimators move up from the trades. BLS projects slight decline.
Typical duties
- Read plans and specs
- Take off quantities
- Price materials and labor
- Request subcontractor bids
- Build estimates
- Review risks
- Present bids
Work environment and schedule
Estimators work in contractor offices with some site visits.
Schedule: Full time, with crunch times before bid deadlines.
A day in the life
- Review a new bid package.
- Take off concrete quantities.
- Call suppliers for pricing.
- Review sub bids.
See a full day in the life of a cost estimator →
Cost Estimator salary
Half of cost estimators earned more than $78,740 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $48,530 for the lowest 10% to $130,820 for the top 10%.
Full cost estimator pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a cost estimator
- Earn a degree or work in the trades
- Learn blueprint reading
- Join as an assistant estimator
- Earn the CPE
- Advance
A bachelor’s degree in construction management or engineering is typical; trade experience can substitute.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a cost estimator →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Blueprint reading
- Quantity takeoff
- Pricing
- Estimating software
- Excel
People skills
- Attention to detail
- Analytical thinking
- Communication
- Organization
All cost estimator skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Good pay
- Office-based construction career
- Path from the trades
- Problem-solving
Cons
- Bid deadline pressure
- Lost bids
- Detail-heavy
- Slight decline
Certifications and licenses
- CPE: Certified Professional Estimator (ASPE).
- CCE: Certified Cost Engineer (AACE).
- Bluebeam certification: Software.
- OSHA 30: Safety.
Career path
- Assistant Estimator: Entry.
- Estimator: Bid.
- Senior Estimator: Large bids.
- Chief Estimator: Lead.
Learn the job before day one
Our Cost Estimator training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as do a quantity takeoff from plans and level subcontractor bids, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
Construction Foreman
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Civil Engineer
Design and build roads, bridges, water systems and the infrastructure we rely on.
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Project Manager
Plan projects, lead teams and deliver results on time, on budget and in scope.
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Compare: Cost Estimator vs. Construction Manager · Cost Estimator vs. Construction Foreman · Cost Estimator vs. Civil Engineer · Cost Estimator vs. Project Manager
Cost Estimator FAQ
Do I need a degree?
Usually, but trade experience can substitute.
What is the CPE?
A credential from the American Society of Professional Estimators.
Is the job growing?
BLS projects slight decline.
How much does a cost estimator make?
The median annual wage for cost estimators was $78,740 ($37.86 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $48,530 and the highest 10% earned more than $130,820.
How long does it take to become a cost estimator?
Most people need about Moderate on-the-job training of training. A bachelor’s degree in construction management or engineering is typical; trade experience can substitute.
Do you need a degree to be a cost estimator?
Usually, but not always. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical, but many estimators move up from skilled trades with strong field experience.
More cost estimator questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 13-1051 (Cost estimators).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Cost estimators (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.