Cost Estimator salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cost estimator earns a median of $78,740 a year ($37.86 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $85,390. About 224,220 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $78,740
- Gross pay
- $3,028.46
- Federal income tax
- −$326.65
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$187.76
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$43.91
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,470.14
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $78,740
- Federal
- $8,493
- FICA
- $6,024
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $64,224
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Cost Estimator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $100,840 | $104,770 | 4,520 |
| Alaska | $97,020 | $101,890 | 220 |
| Wyoming | $90,790 | $88,240 | 440 |
| Colorado | $86,940 | $95,040 | 6,100 |
| Washington | $86,070 | $94,250 | 7,470 |
| California | $85,460 | $94,780 | 26,020 |
| Illinois | $82,750 | $88,880 | 5,990 |
| District of Columbia | $82,730 | $92,030 | 270 |
| Nevada | $82,200 | $88,930 | 2,240 |
| Rhode Island | $81,990 | $88,260 | 590 |
| Vermont | $81,390 | $85,430 | 320 |
| Maryland | $81,190 | $87,770 | 4,580 |
| Connecticut | $81,030 | $88,170 | 2,350 |
| Minnesota | $80,810 | $85,290 | 4,310 |
| New Jersey | $80,570 | $89,600 | 5,240 |
| Virginia | $80,530 | $86,110 | 5,840 |
| Oregon | $80,460 | $88,810 | 2,940 |
| New York | $80,430 | $89,450 | 11,980 |
| Hawaii | $80,360 | $87,120 | 1,040 |
| Idaho | $79,700 | $87,770 | 1,600 |
| Utah | $79,610 | $85,510 | 2,800 |
| New Hampshire | $79,560 | $85,650 | 980 |
| Delaware | $79,290 | $79,200 | 730 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,480 | $83,890 | 9,420 |
| Michigan | $77,990 | $82,600 | 6,960 |
| Ohio | $77,730 | $82,740 | 8,100 |
| West Virginia | $77,480 | $76,980 | 830 |
| Montana | $77,320 | $78,490 | 1,230 |
| Louisiana | $77,030 | $80,280 | 2,680 |
| Arizona | $77,010 | $81,990 | 5,760 |
| Texas | $76,980 | $83,780 | 20,760 |
| Georgia | $76,800 | $81,220 | 6,010 |
| Wisconsin | $76,270 | $78,830 | 5,150 |
| Kansas | $76,250 | $80,750 | 2,250 |
| Iowa | $76,040 | $78,310 | 1,870 |
| Missouri | $76,020 | $81,220 | 6,580 |
| Tennessee | $75,650 | $79,960 | 4,340 |
| Alabama | $74,990 | $77,050 | 3,000 |
| Florida | $74,990 | $81,130 | 13,720 |
| South Dakota | $74,950 | $79,200 | 1,030 |
| Kentucky | $74,880 | $78,920 | 1,960 |
| North Carolina | $74,730 | $78,060 | 8,030 |
| Maine | $74,080 | $77,020 | 760 |
| Indiana | $73,430 | $76,200 | 4,810 |
| North Dakota | $73,280 | $77,540 | 730 |
| Nebraska | $73,100 | $75,840 | 1,330 |
| Mississippi | $71,230 | $74,850 | 1,280 |
| South Carolina | $70,260 | $77,050 | 2,880 |
| Oklahoma | $67,800 | $72,680 | 1,860 |
| New Mexico | $67,590 | $71,890 | 900 |
| Arkansas | $61,470 | $69,300 | 1,400 |
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BLS occupation: Cost Estimators. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 13-1051). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $37.86; the average is $41.06.
Which state pays cost estimators the most?
Massachusetts ($100,840 median), followed by Alaska and Wyoming.
What is the salary range for a cost estimator?
The bottom 10% earn under $48,530 and the top 10% earn over $130,820 a year.
How much is $78,740 after taxes?
About $64,224 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $60,122 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.