Cost Estimators pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $142,310 or more. The middle half of cost estimators in Washington earn between $69,570 and $120,580.
- $54K10th
- $70K25th
- $89KMedian
- $121K75th
- $142K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $95,620 | $7,968 | $45.97 |
| Median | $89,330 | $7,444 | $42.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,570 | $5,798 | $33.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $120,580 | $10,048 | $57.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cost Estimators pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Cost estimators in Washington earn 4% more than the Washington, D.C. average ($92,030) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($85,390). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $78,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $95,620 | $89,330 | $53,890 | $142,310 | 3,780 |
| Washington, D.C. | $92,030 | $82,730 | $66,720 | $127,520 | 270 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $95,620, a single filer in Washington takes home about $70,939 a year, or $5,912 a month and $2,728 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $72,608 | $6,051 |
| Working in MD | $71,768 | $5,981 |
| Working in VA | $71,415 | $5,951 |
| Working in DC | $70,939 | $5,912 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for cost estimators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $95,620 buys what about $87,818 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cost Estimators salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$75,680
- Baltimore, MD$85,140
- Winchester, VA$80,650
- Lexington Park, MD$89,810
- Gettysburg, PA$83,880
- Chambersburg, PA$79,110
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 Washington: questions
How much do cost estimators make an hour in Washington?
$45.97 an hour on average, and $42.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cost estimators salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cost estimators take-home pay in Washington?
About $70,939 a year ($5,912 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $95,620.
Do cost estimators earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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