The median annual wage of cost estimators was $57,860 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,100, and the top 10 percent earned more than $95,620.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of cost estimators in 2010 were as follows:
| Heavy and civil engineering construction | $64,730 |
| Construction of buildings | 60,490 |
| Specialty trade contractors | 58,660 |
| Manufacturing | 54,260 |
| Repair and maintenance | 50,300 |
Cost estimators usually work full time. However, overtime is common, especially when deadlines need to be met.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition