Construction cost estimators: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Construction cost estimators prepare estimates for buildings, roads, and other construction projects. They may calculate the total cost of building a bridge or commercial shopping center, or they may calculate the cost of just one component, such as the foundation. They identify costs of elements such as raw materials and labor, and they may set a timeline for how long they expect the project to take. Although many work directly for construction firms, some work for contractors and engineering firms.

Education Required
Employers generally prefer candidates who have a bachelors degree.
Training Required
Most cost estimators receive on-the-job training, which may include instruction in cost estimation techniques and software, as well as industry-specific software, such as building information modeling (BIM) and computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Job Outlook
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 11% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)
Median pay: How much do Cost Estimators make?
$61,790 Annual Salary
$29.71 per hour

Careers for Cost Estimators

  • Building construction estimators
  • Building estimators
  • Construction estimators
  • Construction job cost estimators
  • Cost consultants
  • Cost engineers
  • Cost/investment recovery technicians
  • Crating and moving estimators
  • Design consultants
  • Electrical estimators
  • Estimator project managers
  • Estimators
  • Job estimators
  • Manufacturing cost estimators
  • Procurement technicians
  • Production cost estimators
  • Project control specialists
  • Project managers

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