Cost Estimators pay range in Appleton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,940 or more. The middle half of cost estimators in Appleton earn between $61,500 and $96,480.
- $52K10th
- $62K25th
- $76KMedian
- $96K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,470 | $6,539 | $37.73 |
| Median | $76,230 | $6,352 | $36.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,500 | $5,125 | $29.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,480 | $8,040 | $46.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cost Estimators pay in Appleton vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Cost estimators in Appleton earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($78,830) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($85,390). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $78,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $78,470 | $76,230 | $51,630 | $112,940 | 290 |
| Wisconsin | $78,830 | $76,270 | $50,890 | $111,530 | 5,150 |
| 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 Appleton
On the average salary of $78,470, a single filer in Appleton takes home about $60,884 a year, or $5,074 a month and $2,342 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Appleton a good place for cost estimators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Appleton area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $78,470 buys what about $84,907 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Appleton ($49,910). A typical home costs $350,370, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Cost Estimators salary in other Wisconsin cities
Appleton ranks 7th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Racine pays the most ($83,560).
- Racine$83,560
- Milwaukee$82,620
- La Crosse$82,060
- Janesville$80,770
- Fond du Lac$80,070
- Sheboygan$78,860
- Appleton$78,470
- Eau Claire$78,350
- Oshkosh$77,720
- Madison$77,370
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 Appleton: questions
How much do cost estimators make an hour in Appleton?
$37.72 an hour on average, and $36.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cost estimators salary in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cost estimators take-home pay in Appleton?
About $60,884 a year ($5,074 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,470.
Do cost estimators earn more in Appleton than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Appleton, WI (11540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 1.63, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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