Cost Estimators pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $119,760 or more. The middle half of cost estimators in Rochester earn between $61,360 and $99,690.
- $56K10th
- $61K25th
- $77KMedian
- $100K75th
- $120K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,590 | $6,882 | $39.71 |
| Median | $76,910 | $6,409 | $36.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,360 | $5,113 | $29.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,690 | $8,308 | $47.93 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cost Estimators pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Cost estimators in Rochester earn 3% less than the Minnesota average ($85,290) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($85,390). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $78,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $82,590 | $76,910 | $56,150 | $119,760 | 120 |
| Minnesota | $85,290 | $80,810 | $56,640 | $125,370 | 4,310 |
| United States | $85,390 | $78,740 | $48,530 | $130,820 | 224,220 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cost Estimators salary after taxes in Rochester
On the average salary of $82,590, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $62,839 a year, or $5,237 a month and $2,417 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for cost estimators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $82,590 buys what about $90,937 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cost Estimators salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 4th of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($87,110).
- Minneapolis$87,110
- Duluth$84,950
- St. Cloud$82,840
- Rochester$82,590
- Mankato$77,520
Highest-paying cities for cost estimators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($109,520).
- San Francisco, CA$109,520
- San Jose, CA$108,990
- Boston, MA$108,390
- Amherst, MA$102,520
- Santa Rosa, CA$101,290
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Cost Estimators salary in Rochester: questions
How much do cost estimators make an hour in Rochester?
$39.71 an hour on average, and $36.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cost estimators salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cost estimators take-home pay in Rochester?
About $62,839 a year ($5,237 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,590. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do cost estimators earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($85,390).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-1051; area Rochester, MN (40340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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