379 metro areas

Cost Estimator Salary by City (2026)

Cost estimators earn the most in San Francisco, CA, an average of $109,530 a year, against $85,390 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Amherst Town, MA ($102,270 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $85,390BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $109,530San Francisco, CA
Best after cost of living: $102,270Amherst Town, MA
Metro areas: 379With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for cost estimators

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

San Francisco, CA$109,530
San Jose, CA$108,990
Boston, MA-NH$108,390
Amherst Town, MA$102,520
Santa Rosa, CA$101,300
Seattle, WA$99,570
Kennewick, WA$99,470
Santa Cruz, CA$97,200
Norwich, CT$96,100
San Diego, CA$95,680

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for cost estimators
Item	Value
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$109,530
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$108,990
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$108,390
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA	$102,520
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$101,300
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$99,570
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$99,470
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$97,200
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$96,100
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$95,680

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

Amherst Town, MA$102,520 nominal$102,270
Paducah, KY-IL$86,780 nominal$100,810
Decatur, IL$88,590 nominal$100,190
Boston, MA-NH$108,390 nominal$100,110
Pittsfield, MA$94,580 nominal$99,450
Kennewick, WA$99,470 nominal$99,390
San Jose, CA$108,990 nominal$98,700
Pueblo, CO$89,380 nominal$97,400
Dubuque, IA$84,990 nominal$97,320
Wildwood, FL$83,030 nominal$97,200

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for cost estimators
Item	Value
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA	$102,270
Paducah, KY-IL	$100,810
Decatur, IL	$100,190
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$100,110
Pittsfield, MA	$99,450
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$99,390
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$98,700
Pueblo, CO	$97,400
Dubuque, IA	$97,320
Wildwood-The Villages, FL	$97,200

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Cost Estimator salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Cost Estimator pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	San Francisco, CA	$109,530	$66,190	$130,870	$94,740
2	San Jose, CA	$108,990	$70,100	$128,150	$98,700
3	Boston, MA-NH	$108,390	$68,850	$127,880	$100,110
4	Amherst Town, MA	$102,520	$58,590	$124,160	$102,270
5	Santa Rosa, CA	$101,300	$64,830	$119,250	$93,980
6	Seattle, WA	$99,570	$67,020	$115,610	$89,600
7	Kennewick, WA	$99,470	$62,520	$117,640	$99,390
8	Santa Cruz, CA	$97,200	$56,890	$117,040	$88,450
9	Norwich, CT	$96,100	$57,240	$115,230	$95,670
10	San Diego, CA	$95,680	$59,510	$113,480	$85,510
11	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$95,620	$59,800	$113,280	$87,820
12	Sacramento, CA	$95,510	$57,430	$114,280	$89,540
13	Denver, CO	$95,450	$64,730	$110,570	$90,230
14	Anchorage, AK	$95,390	$56,240	$114,670	$90,490
15	Kahului, HI	$95,370	$56,530	$114,480	$87,180
16	Worcester, MA	$94,700	$54,290	$114,610	$92,370
17	Pittsfield, MA	$94,580	$56,390	$113,380	$99,450
18	Greeley, CO	$94,490	$62,940	$110,010	$94,320
19	Fresno, CA	$94,080	$56,450	$112,610	$92,090
20	Fort Collins, CO	$94,000	$61,800	$109,870	$92,950
21	Napa, CA	$93,830	$56,800	$112,070	$83,360
22	Vallejo, CA	$93,660	$57,890	$111,280	$86,340
23	Salinas, CA	$93,330	$59,070	$110,200	$85,590
24	San Luis Obispo, CA	$92,960	$56,850	$110,740	$85,600
25	New York, NY-NJ	$92,640	$55,720	$110,820	$82,300
26	Springfield, MA	$92,410	$59,610	$108,580	$96,200
27	Redding, CA	$92,330	$54,520	$110,950	$91,700
28	Chico, CA	$92,270	$52,350	$111,920	$91,180
29	Portland, OR-WA	$92,230	$59,030	$108,580	$87,490
30	Bellingham, WA	$91,940	$62,710	$106,330	$88,970
31	Providence, RI-MA	$91,670	$61,480	$106,520	$90,070
32	Mount Vernon, WA	$91,540	$62,090	$106,040	$89,360
33	Stockton, CA	$91,290	$56,180	$108,580	$86,870
34	Chicago, IL-IN	$91,020	$55,290	$108,620	$87,860
35	Bakersfield, CA	$90,960	$53,850	$109,240	$90,160
36	Vineland, NJ	$90,940	$50,730	$110,740	$94,760
37	Trenton, NJ	$90,920	$55,140	$108,530	$88,120
38	Colorado Springs, CO	$90,830	$64,650	$103,750	$90,190
39	Los Angeles, CA	$90,770	$55,810	$107,990	$79,930
40	Odessa, TX	$90,600	$56,350	$107,450	$96,490
41	Las Vegas, NV	$90,210	$54,370	$107,870	$90,020
42	Lexington Park, MD	$89,810	$52,580	$108,160	$89,130
43	Burlington, VT	$89,690	$65,080	$101,800	$88,850
44	Pueblo, CO	$89,380	$59,110	$104,270	$97,400
45	Corpus Christi, TX	$89,340	$54,330	$106,580	$96,410
46	Kiryas Joel, NY	$89,090	$58,280	$104,270	$81,420
47	Bridgeport, CT	$89,040	$56,140	$105,230	$83,320
48	Barnstable Town, MA	$89,020	$53,710	$106,430	$90,510
49	Modesto, CA	$88,750	$54,580	$105,580	$85,250
50	Decatur, IL	$88,590	$54,060	$105,600	$100,190
51	Santa Maria, CA	$88,590	$57,200	$104,040	$81,430
52	Salt Lake City, UT	$88,320	$56,950	$103,770	$87,560
53	Baton Rouge, LA	$88,230	$53,770	$105,210	$97,190
54	Ogden, UT	$88,230	$57,220	$103,520	$87,920
55	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$88,110	$56,410	$103,730	$89,640
56	Bremerton, WA	$88,000	$60,110	$101,750	$83,330
57	Hartford, CT	$87,760	$55,660	$103,560	$85,410
58	Austin, TX	$87,400	$54,700	$103,500	$89,120
59	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$87,300	$58,240	$101,590	$85,130
60	Columbus, OH	$87,280	$56,310	$102,540	$91,420
61	Detroit, MI	$87,150	$55,490	$102,730	$86,890
62	Dallas, TX	$87,130	$53,830	$103,520	$84,520
63	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$87,110	$62,210	$99,380	$83,100
64	Athens, GA	$87,050	$51,920	$104,350	$93,260
65	York, PA	$87,030	$56,370	$102,110	$90,660
66	Boise City, ID	$86,820	$55,020	$102,500	$88,240
67	Casper, WY	$86,780	$62,460	$98,760	$92,490
68	Paducah, KY-IL	$86,780	$56,160	$101,860	$100,810
69	Atlanta, GA	$86,510	$55,540	$101,750	$86,460
70	Reno, NV	$86,300	$56,100	$101,170	$85,430
71	New Haven, CT	$86,200	$54,270	$101,920	$82,440
72	Urban Honolulu, HI	$86,200	$51,790	$103,150	$77,680
73	Albany, NY	$86,090	$56,120	$100,840	$86,470
74	Cheyenne, WY	$85,900	$57,660	$99,820	$89,020
75	Oxnard, CA	$85,820	$54,770	$101,110	$77,640
76	Charlottesville, VA	$85,800	$55,850	$100,550	$86,540
77	Nashville, TN	$85,720	$54,600	$101,050	$88,980
78	Midland, TX	$85,240	$54,230	$100,510	$88,990
79	Tampa, FL	$85,240	$50,670	$102,250	$84,490
80	Baltimore, MD	$85,130	$54,520	$100,240	$81,470
81	St. Louis, MO-IL	$85,130	$51,130	$101,880	$89,530
82	Longview, WA	$85,110	$57,910	$98,510	$87,250
83	Manchester, NH	$85,110	$56,680	$99,110	$80,550
84	Idaho Falls, ID	$85,050	$51,670	$101,500	$90,080
85	Waterbury, CT	$85,050	$56,580	$99,070	$85,240
86	Dubuque, IA	$84,990	$52,370	$101,070	$97,320
87	Bozeman, MT	$84,970	$59,700	$97,430	$82,890
88	Duluth, MN-WI	$84,950	$59,400	$97,530	$95,700
89	Charleston, WV	$84,930	$47,960	$103,130	$95,730
90	Houston, TX	$84,820	$51,270	$101,360	$86,000
91	Rochester, NY	$84,780	$54,620	$99,630	$87,370
92	Kansas City, MO-KS	$84,740	$52,670	$100,550	$91,570
93	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$84,720	$55,560	$99,090	$88,830
94	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$84,660	$56,870	$98,340	$86,440
95	Durham, NC	$84,610	$49,690	$101,820	$86,720
96	Grand Junction, CO	$84,430	$56,910	$97,990	$88,430
97	Bloomington, IL	$84,410	$50,440	$101,150	$90,240
98	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$84,320	$58,910	$96,840	$93,040
99	Panama City, FL	$84,300	$50,090	$101,150	$86,640
100	Phoenix, AZ	$84,280	$49,570	$101,380	$81,570
101	Riverside, CA	$84,070	$51,940	$99,900	$78,980
102	Gettysburg, PA	$83,890	$52,830	$99,170	$87,950
103	Carson City, NV	$83,780	$55,490	$97,720	$85,380
104	Manhattan, KS	$83,600	$55,180	$97,590	$92,720
105	Racine, WI	$83,570	$57,470	$96,430	$87,090
106	Reading, PA	$83,410	$55,390	$97,200	$85,940
107	Orlando, FL	$83,350	$50,070	$99,740	$82,180
108	Dayton, OH	$83,320	$53,230	$98,160	$89,890
109	New Orleans, LA	$83,300	$53,230	$98,130	$89,960
110	Gainesville, GA	$83,240	$52,100	$98,570	$86,020
111	Glens Falls, NY	$83,220	$54,890	$97,180	$87,720
112	Huntsville, AL	$83,140	$50,840	$99,050	$89,330
113	Syracuse, NY	$83,140	$56,370	$96,320	$86,840
114	Cleveland, OH	$83,050	$53,330	$97,680	$88,420
115	Raleigh, NC	$83,030	$48,440	$100,070	$84,590
116	Wildwood, FL	$83,030	$53,660	$97,510	$97,200
117	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$83,010	$51,000	$98,780	$96,100
118	Pittsburgh, PA	$82,850	$53,910	$97,120	$87,510
119	St. Cloud, MN	$82,850	$55,370	$96,370	$94,540
120	Beaumont, TX	$82,760	$52,520	$97,660	$91,910
121	Birmingham, AL	$82,720	$50,360	$98,650	$90,260
122	Rockford, IL	$82,720	$50,610	$98,530	$89,760
123	Milwaukee, WI	$82,620	$57,350	$95,080	$85,230
124	Rochester, MN	$82,600	$57,320	$95,040	$90,950
125	Allentown, PA-NJ	$82,490	$55,760	$95,680	$82,520
126	Ann Arbor, MI	$82,490	$51,560	$97,720	$81,770
127	Lansing, MI	$82,430	$50,590	$98,090	$86,780
128	El Centro, CA	$82,390	$46,070	$100,280	$86,570
129	Sandusky, OH	$82,390	$54,700	$96,010	$92,280
130	Harrisburg, PA	$82,280	$52,560	$96,910	$83,410
131	Kalamazoo, MI	$82,280	$48,340	$98,990	$86,760
132	Lancaster, PA	$82,240	$56,280	$95,040	$83,700
133	Akron, OH	$82,220	$55,330	$95,450	$88,060
134	Olympia, WA	$82,120	$57,350	$94,330	$79,210
135	Springfield, IL	$82,080	$50,520	$97,640	$88,500
136	La Crosse, WI-MN	$82,060	$56,370	$94,720	$89,420
137	Albany, OR	$81,950	$53,580	$95,930	$80,260
138	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$81,930	$54,100	$95,640	$88,880
139	Miami, FL	$81,810	$48,550	$98,200	$71,670
140	Mobile, AL	$81,790	$49,050	$97,910	$92,840
141	Hilton Head Island, SC	$81,580	$51,580	$96,350	$83,230
142	Warner Robins, GA	$81,540	$52,710	$95,720	$86,940
143	Toledo, OH	$81,520	$52,460	$95,800	$89,140
144	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$81,330	$52,830	$95,370	$87,380
145	Merced, CA	$81,290	$51,190	$96,120	$82,720
146	North Port, FL	$81,240	$49,900	$96,680	$79,320
147	Topeka, KS	$81,240	$55,970	$93,680	$91,470
148	Yakima, WA	$81,200	$57,800	$92,730	$84,990
149	Bend, OR	$81,160	$52,710	$95,180	$78,330
150	Charleston, SC	$81,100	$52,270	$95,310	$80,330
151	Binghamton, NY	$81,000	$53,290	$94,640	$87,230
152	Springfield, OH	$80,910	$54,750	$93,790	$89,420
153	Lewiston, ID-WA	$80,890	$48,510	$96,840	$88,730
154	Charlotte, NC-SC	$80,870	$50,750	$95,720	$83,070
155	Lewiston, ME	$80,850	$55,520	$93,330	$85,340
156	Provo, UT	$80,830	$52,730	$94,680	$82,280
157	San Antonio, TX	$80,810	$50,230	$95,870	$85,320
158	Janesville, WI	$80,770	$54,040	$93,930	$86,200
159	Spokane, WA	$80,750	$56,760	$92,540	$80,470
160	Helena, MT	$80,720	$56,850	$92,480	$84,370
161	Jackson, MI	$80,720	$52,370	$94,660	$87,950
162	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$80,700	$57,700	$92,060	$93,120
163	Salem, OR	$80,700	$51,580	$95,060	$77,860
164	Winchester, VA-WV	$80,640	$53,350	$94,080	$83,610
165	Ames, IA	$80,560	$55,490	$92,890	$90,690
166	Buffalo, NY	$80,390	$53,520	$93,640	$83,880
167	Saginaw, MI	$80,290	$51,130	$94,640	$88,340
168	Scranton, PA	$80,290	$54,580	$92,930	$85,820
169	Davenport, IA-IL	$80,270	$53,440	$93,500	$90,110
170	Naples, FL	$80,270	$50,290	$95,040	$77,780
171	Yuba City, CA	$80,230	$48,210	$95,990	$76,970
172	Elmira, NY	$80,200	$56,560	$91,830	$84,960
173	Rocky Mount, NC	$80,180	$48,550	$95,760	$91,100
174	Greenville, NC	$80,100	$53,770	$93,080	$90,610
175	Fond du Lac, WI	$80,080	$51,670	$94,060	$87,380
176	Kingston, NY	$80,080	$49,110	$95,350	$79,520
177	Augusta, GA-SC	$80,040	$49,440	$95,100	$87,090
178	Palm Bay, FL	$79,980	$50,500	$94,490	$79,980
179	Watertown, NY	$79,960	$47,400	$95,970	$91,180
180	Sherman, TX	$79,890	$47,630	$95,780	$85,200
181	Wenatchee, WA	$79,890	$54,970	$92,190	$76,920
182	Canton, OH	$79,870	$54,060	$92,580	$89,330
183	Minot, ND	$79,830	$58,390	$90,400	$91,730
184	Muskegon, MI	$79,810	$52,210	$93,410	$86,260
185	Cape Coral, FL	$79,770	$50,810	$94,040	$77,940
186	Peoria, IL	$79,730	$51,290	$93,750	$87,390
187	Des Moines, IA	$79,680	$52,420	$93,120	$86,890
188	Evansville, IN	$79,620	$54,230	$92,120	$86,990
189	Billings, MT	$79,520	$57,010	$90,600	$85,020
190	Grand Rapids, MI	$79,480	$53,930	$92,080	$83,190
191	Gulfport, MS	$79,480	$50,500	$93,770	$88,310
192	Medford, OR	$79,270	$48,800	$94,290	$78,150
193	Visalia, CA	$79,190	$53,730	$91,710	$79,330
194	Chambersburg, PA	$79,120	$56,010	$90,500	$83,600
195	Battle Creek, MI	$79,100	$49,210	$93,830	$87,360
196	Indianapolis, IN	$79,020	$56,010	$90,360	$82,570
197	Lawrence, KS	$79,020	$48,670	$93,950	$87,560
198	Fargo, ND-MN	$78,980	$56,200	$90,190	$86,910
199	Richmond, VA	$78,870	$52,850	$91,690	$80,600
200	Sheboygan, WI	$78,850	$54,540	$90,850	$83,870
201	Columbus, IN	$78,770	$55,020	$90,460	$84,700
202	Sebastian, FL	$78,750	$46,610	$94,580	$80,110
203	State College, PA	$78,690	$48,650	$93,500	$81,320
204	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$78,540	$51,540	$91,830	$91,240
205	Waco, TX	$78,520	$53,350	$90,920	$84,840
206	Waterloo, IA	$78,480	$51,810	$91,620	$90,150
207	Appleton, WI	$78,460	$54,390	$90,310	$84,900
208	Utica, NY	$78,460	$52,980	$91,020	$84,660
209	Lima, OH	$78,440	$48,280	$93,290	$87,480
210	Bloomington, IN	$78,420	$56,800	$89,070	$82,470
211	Wichita, KS	$78,370	$52,330	$91,190	$88,110
212	Eau Claire, WI	$78,350	$55,390	$89,670	$84,430
213	Morristown, TN	$78,290	$50,770	$91,850	$90,650
214	Macon, GA	$78,270	$52,750	$90,830	$88,410
215	Omaha, NE-IA	$78,250	$53,710	$90,330	$85,140
216	Kokomo, IN	$78,230	$49,520	$92,350	$87,260
217	Montgomery, AL	$78,170	$49,320	$92,390	$87,160
218	Killeen, TX	$78,150	$47,360	$93,330	$85,750
219	Monroe, MI	$78,150	$49,440	$92,270	$83,590
220	Tucson, AZ	$78,100	$48,550	$92,640	$80,600
221	Twin Falls, ID	$78,080	$47,570	$93,100	$84,770
222	Asheville, NC	$78,000	$53,560	$90,020	$80,820
223	Knoxville, TN	$77,960	$51,110	$91,190	$84,220
224	Kankakee, IL	$77,920	$47,780	$92,770	$80,830
225	Jackson, MS	$77,900	$51,210	$91,040	$87,480
226	Lafayette, LA	$77,900	$48,280	$92,500	$89,330
227	Lynchburg, VA	$77,880	$51,810	$90,710	$87,150
228	Spartanburg, SC	$77,730	$48,530	$92,120	$85,370
229	Flint, MI	$77,710	$48,400	$92,140	$83,530
230	Oshkosh, WI	$77,710	$53,640	$89,590	$83,620
231	Punta Gorda, FL	$77,630	$47,740	$92,330	$77,220
232	Pensacola, FL	$77,580	$45,200	$93,540	$79,390
233	Mankato, MN	$77,520	$52,400	$89,900	$85,230
234	Salisbury, MD	$77,460	$49,880	$91,020	$81,010
235	Missoula, MT	$77,420	$53,250	$89,340	$80,270
236	Madison, WI	$77,380	$54,890	$88,440	$79,540
237	Lincoln, NE	$77,330	$52,750	$89,440	$84,440
238	Crestview, FL	$77,020	$47,610	$91,500	$79,380
239	Lexington, KY	$77,020	$48,630	$91,020	$82,920
240	Atlantic City, NJ	$77,000	$45,390	$92,560	$77,890
241	Houma, LA	$76,920	$49,750	$90,310	$90,380
242	Iowa City, IA	$76,730	$49,940	$89,940	$83,850
243	Lakeland, FL	$76,670	$46,530	$91,500	$78,930
244	Port St. Lucie, FL	$76,650	$48,050	$90,730	$76,480
245	Altoona, PA	$76,590	$51,670	$88,880	$85,570
246	Greensboro, NC	$76,560	$49,000	$90,150	$82,440
247	Wausau, WI	$76,320	$50,730	$88,900	$82,370
248	Jacksonville, FL	$76,190	$47,070	$90,520	$76,590
249	Amarillo, TX	$76,170	$50,170	$88,960	$82,960
250	Champaign, IL	$76,130	$50,130	$88,940	$82,120
251	Savannah, GA	$76,090	$50,750	$88,570	$79,920
252	Morgantown, WV	$75,920	$49,340	$89,000	$81,350
253	Longview, TX	$75,860	$48,030	$89,560	$84,770
254	Owensboro, KY	$75,860	$49,500	$88,840	$85,610
255	Goldsboro, NC	$75,820	$50,920	$88,070	$85,710
256	Greenville, SC	$75,820	$50,840	$88,130	$81,300
257	Dalton, GA	$75,730	$47,860	$89,460	$84,290
258	Sierra Vista, AZ	$75,690	$48,530	$89,040	$84,810
259	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$75,670	$49,610	$88,520	$80,350
260	Decatur, AL	$75,590	$45,390	$90,460	$86,670
261	St. George, UT	$75,570	$52,290	$87,050	$77,650
262	Lake Charles, LA	$75,550	$46,470	$89,860	$88,000
263	Harrisonburg, VA	$75,480	$54,100	$86,010	$79,540
264	Lafayette, IN	$75,480	$52,790	$86,670	$80,790
265	Deltona, FL	$75,440	$46,590	$89,630	$75,920
266	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$75,420	$45,510	$90,150	$85,300
267	Walla Walla, WA	$75,400	$51,850	$87,010	$76,530
268	Cleveland, TN	$75,320	$50,500	$87,530	$85,510
269	Parkersburg, WV	$75,210	$46,860	$89,170	$86,380
270	Oklahoma City, OK	$75,130	$45,430	$89,750	$83,100
271	Tulsa, OK	$75,110	$47,440	$88,730	$84,190
272	Wilmington, NC	$75,090	$49,900	$87,510	$77,880
273	Staunton, VA	$75,000	$49,170	$87,730	$82,300
274	Portland, ME	$74,940	$44,100	$90,130	$73,570
275	Bangor, ME	$74,920	$52,310	$86,070	$77,630
276	Tuscaloosa, AL	$74,920	$47,150	$88,610	$85,410
277	Slidell, LA	$74,900	$46,880	$88,690	$80,780
278	Albuquerque, NM	$74,880	$43,870	$90,150	$78,370
279	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$74,880	$50,360	$86,960	$86,610
280	Jefferson City, MO	$74,860	$45,160	$89,480	$85,090
281	Yuma, AZ	$74,760	$48,670	$87,590	$80,640
282	Green Bay, WI	$74,670	$52,350	$85,680	$80,220
283	Columbia, MO	$74,630	$45,590	$88,920	$83,440
284	Lebanon, PA	$74,610	$52,600	$85,450	$80,040
285	Burlington, NC	$74,590	$47,860	$87,760	$80,040
286	Gainesville, FL	$74,530	$47,170	$87,980	$77,050
287	Youngstown, OH	$74,510	$49,420	$86,860	$85,260
288	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$74,460	$48,940	$87,030	$81,410
289	Albany, GA	$74,340	$49,030	$86,800	$84,800
290	Erie, PA	$74,260	$50,130	$86,130	$81,650
291	Great Falls, MT	$74,240	$53,640	$84,390	$76,660
292	Elizabethtown, KY	$74,210	$43,910	$89,150	$81,930
293	Roanoke, VA	$74,150	$50,440	$85,820	$79,200
294	Blacksburg, VA	$74,070	$52,310	$84,780	$79,890
295	Fayetteville, AR	$74,050	$44,990	$88,380	$81,060
296	Flagstaff, AZ	$74,050	$47,300	$87,240	$73,810
297	Fayetteville, NC	$74,030	$44,450	$88,610	$80,490
298	Hattiesburg, MS	$73,990	$47,320	$87,110	$84,430
299	Mansfield, OH	$73,880	$48,190	$86,550	$83,130
300	San Angelo, TX	$73,820	$43,080	$88,960	$79,850
301	Prescott Valley, AZ	$73,760	$49,090	$85,920	$75,070
302	Rapid City, SD	$73,610	$56,580	$81,990	$82,560
303	Eugene, OR	$73,590	$48,210	$86,070	$72,450
304	Jackson, TN	$73,570	$47,670	$86,340	$86,020
305	Kenosha, WI	$73,570	$51,940	$84,220	$72,760
306	Alexandria, LA	$73,510	$49,400	$85,380	$85,790
307	Fort Wayne, IN	$73,490	$49,420	$85,340	$79,390
308	College Station, TX	$73,440	$47,920	$86,010	$80,750
309	Tallahassee, FL	$73,400	$44,430	$87,690	$78,150
310	Myrtle Beach, SC	$73,280	$47,090	$86,170	$78,260
311	Joplin, MO-KS	$73,240	$45,910	$86,690	$85,440
312	Clarksville, TN-KY	$73,200	$46,260	$86,440	$80,490
313	Bowling Green, KY	$73,090	$46,680	$86,090	$81,050
314	Anniston, AL	$73,050	$42,000	$88,340	$84,990
315	Columbia, SC	$72,950	$49,300	$84,590	$77,890
316	South Bend, IN-MI	$72,880	$51,810	$83,280	$78,490
317	Bay City, MI	$72,840	$46,610	$85,760	$79,240
318	Auburn, AL	$72,760	$43,080	$87,380	$82,740
319	Weirton, WV-OH	$72,720	$46,550	$85,610	$81,690
320	Michigan City, IN	$72,650	$53,580	$82,040	$79,240
321	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$72,530	$50,150	$83,550	$77,080
322	Cedar Rapids, IA	$72,450	$52,560	$82,220	$81,440
323	Dover, DE	$72,360	$50,810	$82,970	$74,210
324	Grand Island, NE	$72,340	$52,850	$81,950	$83,480
325	Springfield, MO	$72,260	$43,680	$86,320	$81,570
326	Niles, MI	$72,070	$48,840	$83,510	$78,020
327	Ocala, FL	$71,680	$45,390	$84,610	$75,270
328	Kingsport, TN-VA	$71,660	$44,350	$85,110	$82,890
329	Elkhart, IN	$71,610	$49,630	$82,450	$79,280
330	Pocatello, ID	$71,490	$46,260	$83,930	$80,410
331	Bismarck, ND	$71,450	$53,730	$80,180	$78,500
332	Wheeling, WV-OH	$71,220	$50,290	$81,540	$80,640
333	Midland, MI	$71,070	$44,550	$84,140	$77,320
334	Texarkana, TX-AR	$70,800	$41,750	$85,110	$84,270
335	Winston, NC	$70,700	$44,180	$83,760	$76,810
336	Florence, AL	$70,660	$43,700	$83,930	$83,310
337	Gadsden, AL	$70,570	$45,820	$82,780	$82,390
338	Johnstown, PA	$70,430	$44,600	$83,160	$81,960
339	Valdosta, GA	$70,430	$43,240	$83,820	$79,790
340	Tyler, TX	$70,350	$45,200	$82,720	$76,340
341	Lubbock, TX	$70,140	$45,570	$82,240	$76,810
342	Abilene, TX	$69,970	$43,660	$82,930	$77,430
343	Williamsport, PA	$69,870	$50,040	$79,640	$75,660
344	Terre Haute, IN	$69,430	$47,880	$80,020	$79,080
345	Traverse City, MI	$69,390	$49,000	$79,410	$74,320
346	Wichita Falls, TX	$69,390	$47,780	$80,040	$77,520
347	Pinehurst, NC	$69,200	$42,140	$82,530	$78,340
348	Logan, UT-ID	$69,180	$42,490	$82,330	$72,120
349	Columbus, GA-AL	$69,120	$44,890	$81,060	$77,410
350	Florence, SC	$68,990	$50,590	$78,040	$79,510
351	Daphne, AL	$68,620	$42,310	$81,600	$72,470
352	Little Rock, AR	$68,600	$42,700	$81,350	$76,760
353	Shreveport, LA	$68,540	$44,080	$80,600	$80,860
354	Farmington, NM	$68,430	$42,560	$81,160	$78,020
355	Enid, OK	$68,350	$41,870	$81,390	$81,110
356	Brunswick, GA	$68,270	$45,860	$79,310	$77,840
357	Sumter, SC	$68,100	$41,750	$81,080	$77,370
358	Hickory, NC	$67,790	$41,120	$80,910	$76,610
359	McAllen, TX	$67,540	$41,310	$80,480	$78,630
360	Monroe, LA	$67,140	$42,200	$79,440	$80,310
361	Hammond, LA	$66,640	$40,020	$79,750	$78,900
362	Johnson City, TN	$66,440	$41,060	$78,940	$75,560
363	Grants Pass, OR	$66,390	$45,990	$76,460	$67,910
364	Jacksonville, NC	$66,310	$42,140	$78,210	$72,010
365	Muncie, IN	$66,100	$42,560	$77,690	$74,990
366	El Paso, TX	$65,810	$41,020	$78,020	$73,190
367	Homosassa Springs, FL	$65,710	$44,280	$76,250	$70,300
368	Jonesboro, AR	$65,170	$40,500	$77,330	$75,890
369	Hot Springs, AR	$65,100	$40,270	$77,360	$75,940
370	Dothan, AL	$64,900	$40,750	$76,790	$77,420
371	Victoria, TX	$64,380	$38,830	$76,940	$71,660
372	Santa Fe, NM	$64,210	$46,260	$73,050	$65,010
373	Brownsville, TX	$63,190	$41,430	$73,880	$73,500
374	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$62,500	$38,810	$74,190	$72,770
375	Beckley, WV	$61,480	$38,830	$72,650	$69,570
376	Aguadilla, PR	$60,110	$32,840	$73,550	N/A
377	Laredo, TX	$59,860	$41,160	$69,080	$68,840
378	Las Cruces, NM	$59,050	$37,670	$69,580	$65,460
379	San Juan, PR	$53,390	$30,830	$64,520	N/A

More on cost estimators

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Cost Estimator salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays cost estimators the most?

San Francisco, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $109,530 a year, followed by San Jose, CA ($108,990), Boston, MA-NH ($108,390), Amherst Town, MA ($102,520). The national mean is $85,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do cost estimators earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Amherst Town, MA ($102,270 at national prices, $102,520 nominal), Paducah, KY-IL ($100,810 at national prices, $86,780 nominal), Decatur, IL ($100,190 at national prices, $88,590 nominal).

How much do cost estimators make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $92,640; Los Angeles, CA: $90,770; Chicago, IL-IN: $91,020; Dallas, TX: $87,130; Houston, TX: $84,820 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do cost estimators earn the least?

Of the 379 metro areas with their own estimate, San Juan, PR has the lowest mean wage, $53,390.