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Salary comparison

Cost Estimators vs. Accountants and Auditors: Who Earns More?

Accountants and Auditorss out-earn Cost Estimatorss by $5K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Cost Estimatorss land at $78,740 and Accountants and Auditorss at $83,680. The education gap is real: cost estimator programs typically require bachelor's degree, while accountants and auditor programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Cost Estimatorss is Massachusetts ($100,840); for Accountants and Auditorss it's District of Columbia ($111,530).

Cost Estimators
Accountants and Auditors
Median salary
$78,740
$83,680
Hourly rate
$37.86/hr
$40.23/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$48,530
$56,020
Senior level (90th %)
$130,820
$144,090
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
224,220
1,449,500
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
4.6%
Category
Business & Finance
Business & Finance
Top-paying state
Massachusetts
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Cost Estimators median pay.

State
Cost Estimators
Accountants and Auditors
Massachusetts
$100,840
$99,460
Alaska
$97,020
$83,460
Colorado
$86,940
$97,030
Washington
$86,070
$96,550
California
$85,460
$97,050
District of Columbia
$82,730
$111,530
Rhode Island
$81,990
$95,820
Maryland
$81,190
$89,370
Connecticut
$81,030
$97,550
New Jersey
$80,570
$100,830
Virginia
$80,530
$93,290
Oregon
$80,460
$85,800
New York
$80,430
$102,640
New Hampshire
$79,560
$83,470
Delaware
$79,290
$95,020

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Cost Estimatorss or Accountants and Auditorss?

Accountants and Auditorss earn more nationally. The median is $78,740 for Cost Estimatorss versus $83,680 for Accountants and Auditorss, a difference of $5K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Cost Estimators or Accountants and Auditors?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Cost Estimators or Accountants and Auditors?

Cost Estimators typically requires bachelor's degree. Accountants and Auditors requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Cost Estimatorss get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Cost Estimatorss at $100,840/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Cost Estimators vs. Accountants and Auditors pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Cost Estimatorss earn $100,840 vs. $99,460 for Accountants and Auditorss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Cost Estimators salary breakdownView →Full Accountants and Auditors salary breakdownView →Best cities for Cost Estimatorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Accountants and Auditorss by take-home payExplore →How to become a cost estimatorsGuide →How to become a accountants and auditorsGuide →