Employment of cost estimators is expected to grow 36 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Demand for cost estimators is expected to remain strong as companies look for more accurate cost projections and products and services that are more cost-effective.
Growth of the construction industry will create the majority of new jobs. In particular, construction and repair of the national infrastructure, including roads, bridges, airports, and subway systems, will drive demand for qualified estimators.
Job prospects are expected to be good overall. Jobseekers with a bachelor’s degree and related work experience will have the best job opportunities as employers increasingly seek cost estimators with that background.
In manufacturing, those with a strong background in mathematics, statistics, engineering, or accounting, and knowledge of cost estimation software, should have the best prospects.
In construction, those with knowledge of Building Information Modeling (BIM) software are likely to have the best job prospects. Jobs of cost estimators working in construction, like those of many other trades in the construction industry, are sensitive to changing economic conditions. During economic downturns, there are frequent layoffs. During boom times, however, there may be shortages of workers.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition