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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The salary headline is just the beginning — location changes everything. The national median salary for Cost Estimators in 2026 is $83,800, with entry-level positions averaging $60,336 and senior roles reaching $118,996. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $152,640, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Business & Finance within the broader Finance & Strategy industry, Cost Estimators typically hold Bachelor's degree. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$92,880 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Cost Estimator in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $152,640 — $92,880 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($59,760). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Cost Estimators average $60,336, the median sits at $83,800, and senior earners pull in $118,996. That $58,660 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $3,433 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $142,560 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $60,240. That $82,320 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Cost Estimator in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $152,640 — $92,880 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($59,760). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Cost Estimator is $60,336, while senior-level (P90) earners average $118,996. That $58,660 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Cost Estimators average $60,336 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $60,336 | $83,800 | $118,996 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £33,766 | £46,898 | £66,595 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$46,344 | CA$64,367 | CA$91,401 |
| Australia | 13 | A$53,176 | A$73,855 | A$104,874 |
| Sweden | 24 | 314,785 kr | 437,201 kr | 620,825 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $72,822 | $101,142 | $143,622 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $70,373 | $97,740 | $138,791 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $69,984 | $97,200 | $138,024 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $64,800 | $90,000 | $127,800 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $64,022 | $88,920 | $126,266 |
| Washington | 8 | $62,791 | $87,210 | $123,838 |
| New York | 5 | $59,097 | $82,080 | $116,553 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $59,098 | $82,080 | $116,554 |
| Florida | 22 | $58,650 | $81,458 | $115,671 |
| Colorado | 11 | $57,637 | $80,051 | $113,672 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $57,542 | $79,920 | $113,486 |
| Nevada | 5 | $57,439 | $79,776 | $113,282 |
| Arizona | 12 | $57,154 | $79,380 | $112,720 |
| Oregon | 5 | $57,024 | $79,200 | $112,464 |
| Idaho | 3 | $56,851 | $78,960 | $112,123 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $56,402 | $78,336 | $111,237 |
| Utah | 4 | $56,246 | $78,120 | $110,930 |
| Virginia | 7 | $55,321 | $76,834 | $109,105 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $54,605 | $75,840 | $107,693 |
| Alaska | 1 | $54,432 | $75,600 | $107,352 |
| Illinois | 5 | $53,810 | $74,736 | $106,125 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $52,474 | $72,880 | $103,490 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $51,840 | $72,000 | $102,240 |
| Montana | 1 | $51,840 | $72,000 | $102,240 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $51,667 | $71,760 | $101,899 |
| Texas | 40 | $51,412 | $71,406 | $101,397 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $51,322 | $71,280 | $101,218 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $51,063 | $70,920 | $100,707 |
| Georgia | 6 | $50,890 | $70,680 | $100,366 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $50,803 | $70,560 | $100,195 |
| Kansas | 4 | $50,544 | $70,200 | $99,684 |
| Michigan | 6 | $50,371 | $69,960 | $99,343 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $49,767 | $69,120 | $98,151 |
| Maryland | 1 | $49,766 | $69,120 | $98,150 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $49,248 | $68,400 | $97,128 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $49,248 | $68,400 | $97,128 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $47,952 | $66,600 | $94,572 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $47,693 | $66,240 | $94,061 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $47,045 | $65,340 | $92,783 |
| Missouri | 4 | $47,045 | $65,340 | $92,783 |
| Alabama | 5 | $46,864 | $65,088 | $92,425 |
| Indiana | 3 | $46,138 | $64,080 | $90,994 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $46,138 | $64,080 | $90,994 |
| Iowa | 2 | $45,619 | $63,360 | $89,971 |
| Ohio | 6 | $45,533 | $63,240 | $89,801 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $43,546 | $60,480 | $85,882 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Cost Estimator median of $101,142 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($97,740) and Hawaii ($97,200). State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $60,480 and $63,360. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($152,640 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $72,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $152,640 | 212 | $72,000 | $90,986 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $142,560 | 198 | $72,000 | $85,437 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $132,480 | 184 | $72,000 | $79,888 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $130,320 | 181 | $72,000 | $78,699 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $128,160 | 178 | $72,000 | $77,510 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $127,440 | 177 | $72,000 | $77,113 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $127,440 | 177 | $72,000 | $77,113 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $124,560 | 173 | $72,000 | $75,528 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $124,560 | 173 | $72,000 | $75,528 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $121,680 | 169 | $72,000 | $73,942 |
From a career planning perspective, Cost Estimator offers a $58,660 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's degree. Day-to-day, expect hybrid work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Cost Estimators is $83,800 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $60,336, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $118,996.
The highest-paying city for Cost Estimators is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $152,640. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($152,640), Santa Clara ($142,560), Irvine ($132,480). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Cost Estimator salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $59,760. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Cost Estimators (10th percentile) average $60,336 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $109,901. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Cost Estimators average $118,996 nationally — $58,660 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Cost Estimators can earn up to $216,749.
The top-paying states for Cost Estimators are California ($101,142 median), Massachusetts ($97,740 median), Hawaii ($97,200 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Cost Estimator involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Finance & Strategy sector (Business & Finance), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $83,800 and representation across 288 metro areas, Cost Estimator offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $58,660 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.