Occupation · SOC 13-1051
Cost Estimators
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
$77,070
$46,330–$128,640
Projected growth
-4.2%
Declining
Annual openings
-930
per year
Employed (US)
219,530
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
3,094 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionMathematicsSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingWritingComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessManagement of Financial ResourcesCoordinationTime ManagementSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisPersuasionNegotiationMonitoringLearning StrategiesService OrientationManagement of Material ResourcesInstructingOperations AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingOperations MonitoringScienceQuality Control AnalysisEquipment SelectionTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
MathematicsEconomics and AccountingComputers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyBuilding and ConstructionEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementDesignCustomer and Personal ServiceMechanicalProduction and ProcessingAdministrativePhysicsLaw and GovernmentSales and MarketingEducation and TrainingPersonnel and Human ResourcesTransportationTelecommunicationsPublic Safety and SecurityGeographyPsychologyCommunications and MediaChemistryBiologySociology and AnthropologyForeign LanguagePhilosophy and TheologyHistory and ArcheologyFood ProductionTherapy and CounselingMedicine and DentistryFine Arts
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatApple AppleWorksAssured Software JPPAutodesk AutoCADAutodesk RevitCPR International GeneralCOST EstimatorCPR Visual EstimatorChoice Job CostComputer aided design and drafting CADD softwareConEst BidTracConEst Electrical FormulasConEst IntelliBid Design BuildConEst IntellibidConEst JobTracConEst Permit TracConEst SureCountConEst T&M Billing ManagerConstruction Management Software ProEstCorel QuattroProCost accounting softwareCost estimating softwareDassault Systemes CATIADecisioneering Crystal BallEFI Hagen OAGalorath SEERGalorath SEER-SEMHCSS HeavyBidHCSS HeavyJobIBM CostimaterIBM Lotus 1-2-3Intuit QuickBooksLaserfiche AvanteLogic Software Easy Projects.NETMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Business Contact ManagerMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OneNoteMicrosoft Outlook
Representative tasks
Getting InformationWorking with ComputersAnalyzing Data or InformationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeProcessing InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsScheduling Work and ActivitiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDocumenting/Recording InformationCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsThinking CreativelyMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleDeveloping and Building TeamsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesCoaching and Developing OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesTraining and Teaching OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesSelling or Influencing OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsStaffing Organizational UnitsDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentAssisting and Caring for OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Blueprint and specification documents — interpret and extract relevant quantity and scope data under direct supervision on assigned construction or manufacturing projects.Spreadsheet software and basic estimating templates — apply to organize material, labor, and equipment line items with guidance from senior estimators.Historical cost databases — retrieve and reference prior project data to support current estimates under the direction of a project lead.Standard cost estimating forms and checklists — follow established protocols to compile preliminary time and materials estimates for routine project scopes.Engineers, architects, and project supervisors — communicate clearly to clarify scope questions and gather input needed to complete assigned estimate sections.Mathematical reasoning and unit-cost calculations — perform accurately to convert quantities from blueprints into cost figures on straightforward project tasks.Accounting and project management software — enter cost data and maintain organized estimate records under oversight in a professional office environment.Vendor and subcontractor quotes — collect, compare, and summarize for inclusion in estimate packages as directed by senior staff.Estimate assumptions and scope boundaries — document in written summaries to support transparency and review by supervisors on entry-level assignments.CAD drawings and design documents — read and navigate to identify material takeoff quantities with assistance on standard residential or commercial projects.
developing
Complete project blueprints and technical specifications — analyze independently to prepare comprehensive time, cost, materials, and labor estimates for moderately complex projects.Spreadsheet and analytical estimating software — use proficiently to build structured cost models and perform sensitivity analyses on bid opportunities.Historical cost records and benchmark data — collect, organize, and apply to calibrate current estimates for products, projects, or services with limited oversight.Actual versus budgeted costs — track and assess throughout the project lifecycle to evaluate cost effectiveness and flag variances to project management.Engineers, contractors, and subcontractors — confer routinely to evaluate the cost impact of design changes and scope adjustments on active estimates.Subcontractor and vendor estimate packages — prepare and issue with clearly defined scope requirements to support competitive selection on mid-scale projects.Management planning and scheduling reports — produce estimate summaries that translate detailed cost data into actionable information for project organization decisions.Tendering documentation and bid packages — assemble and submit following established processes with growing confidence across multiple simultaneous pursuits.Critical thinking and judgment — apply to identify estimating risks, gaps in scope, and cost drivers on familiar project types in a project-based office setting.Client and cross-departmental personnel — consult proactively to resolve scope ambiguities and validate estimate assumptions before bid submission.
proficient
Complex, multi-discipline blueprints and engineering documentation — analyze autonomously to deliver accurate, fully integrated time, cost, materials, and labor estimates across diverse project types.Cost estimating methodology and analytical software — apply across the full estimating lifecycle, including parametric modeling, bottom-up takeoffs, and Monte Carlo risk analysis.Comprehensive historical cost databases — build, maintain, and mine to benchmark current estimates and identify trends that inform competitive pricing strategy.Project cost performance — monitor continuously against approved budgets, diagnosing root causes of variance and recommending corrective actions to leadership.Tendering processes and vendor negotiations — lead from initial RFP development through contract award, securing favorable terms while managing organizational risk exposure.Multidisciplinary project teams including engineers, architects, owners, and subcontractors — coordinate negotiations on scope changes and resolve estimate disputes with authority and technical credibility.Non-routine and high-risk estimate scenarios — evaluate using systems analysis and deductive reasoning to develop defensible cost positions under ambiguous or incomplete information.Estimate packages for management planning — prepare at a level of detail and clarity sufficient to drive major capital investment and resource allocation decisions.Subcontractor and vendor qualification and pricing — evaluate holistically, balancing technical, financial, and schedule criteria to recommend selection on large or complex projects.Emerging technologies, materials, and construction methods — assess for cost and schedule impact, integrating findings into forward-looking estimates in an evolving industry environment.
advanced
Organizational estimating strategy and methodology — define and govern enterprise-wide standards, tools, and workflows to ensure consistency and competitive advantage across all project types.Estimating department talent and capability — develop through structured mentoring, performance coaching, and knowledge-transfer programs that build organizational depth in cost analysis skills.Enterprise cost intelligence systems and historical databases — champion investment in and continuous improvement of, ensuring data integrity and accessibility for the full project portfolio.Executive leadership and capital planning committees — advise on project feasibility, financial risk, and bid strategy by translating complex cost data into clear strategic guidance.Cross-functional relationships with engineering, finance, operations, and clients — lead at senior level to align estimating outputs with organizational goals, schedule commitments, and profitability targets.Tendering and procurement policy — establish and institutionalize processes that balance risk management, legal compliance, and competitive positioning across the organization.Cost management frameworks and performance metrics — design and implement to track estimating accuracy, win rates, and cost-outcome alignment at portfolio scale.Industry benchmarking and market intelligence — synthesize from external sources to position the organization's cost structures relative to competitors and emerging economic conditions.Complex, high-value, or politically sensitive negotiations with owners, joint-venture partners, and major subcontractors — lead personally, protecting organizational interests while sustaining long-term relationships.Organizational culture of analytical rigor, integrity, and continuous improvement in estimating practice — model and reinforce across business units to elevate the profession's standards enterprise-wide.
Also known as
39 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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