Cost Estimators
SOC 13-1051 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Cost Estimators is $74,740, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $79,520, and an estimated 220,970 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +12.2% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -4.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 4.2% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Cost Estimators has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $74,740 | $74,740 | 220,970 |
| 2022 | $71,200 | $74,131 | 225,310 |
| 2021 | $65,170 | $73,283 | 208,950 |
| 2020 | $66,610 | $78,421 | 199,360 |
Nominal change
+12.2%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-4.7%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-4.2%
Declining
Employment 2024
221,400
Projected 2034
212,100
Annual Openings
16,900
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Cost Estimators earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $74,740. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $94,990 | +27.1% | 4,630 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $85,110 | +13.9% | 100 |
| District of Columbia | $83,620 | +11.9% | 380 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $83,300 | +11.5% | 180 |
| California | $81,910 | +9.6% | 25,850 |
| Washington | $81,860 | +9.5% | 6,980 |
| New Jersey | $80,820 | +8.1% | 5,610 |
| Arizona | $80,650 | +7.9% | 4,670 |
| New York | $80,460 | +7.7% | 9,680 |
| Colorado | $79,930 | +6.9% | 5,260 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$44,820
25th Pct
$57,130
Median
$74,740
75th Pct
$96,740
90th Pct
$124,520
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turner & Townsend, Inc. | CA | 4 | $149,500 |
| Cumming Management Group, Inc. | NY | 3 | $154,000 |
| Darby Construction Services | NY | 3 | $56,156 |
| Cumming Management Group, Inc. | CA | 2 | $155,000 |
| Pick Me, LLC | OR | 2 | $98,800 |
| Microsoft Corporation | WA | 2 | $159,933 |
| Lend Lease US Services Inc. | CA | 2 | $146,000 |
| Agurto Corporation | CA | 2 | $68,640 |
| Envision Bay Consulting Inc. | CA | 2 | $84,344 |
| Turner & Townsend, Inc. | AZ | 2 | $114,000 |
| Rider Levett Bucknall Ltd. | AZ | 2 | $109,000 |
| RPM XCONSTRUCTION, LLC | TX | 2 | $135,960 |
| Structural Preservation Systems LLC | NY | 2 | $95,000 |
| Princeton Technical Services | IL | 2 | $56,160 |
| General Motors Company | MI | 2 | $115,169 |
| FIVE STAR GRANITE INC | WA | 2 | $85,000 |
| Graham Construction & Management Inc. | WA | 2 | $75,000 |
| Shipco Transport Inc. | NJ | 2 | $54,080 |
| Nuvila Electric LLC | TX | 2 | $76,000 |
| Turner & Townsend, Inc. | TX | 2 | $140,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Business & Financial Operations
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
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