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Salary comparison

Cost Estimators vs. Business Operations Specialists, All Other: Who Earns More?

Business Operations Specialists, All Others out-earn Cost Estimatorss by $4K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Cost Estimatorss land at $78,740 and Business Operations Specialists, All Others at $83,050. The education gap is real: cost estimator programs typically require bachelor's degree, while business operations specialists, all other programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Cost Estimatorss is Massachusetts ($100,840); for Business Operations Specialists, All Others it's District of Columbia ($108,160).

Cost Estimators
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
Median salary
$78,740
$83,050
Hourly rate
$37.86/hr
$39.93/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$48,530
$47,880
Senior level (90th %)
$130,820
$150,010
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
224,220
1,087,090
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
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
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
Massachusetts
$100,840
$93,270
Alaska
$97,020
$94,740
Colorado
$86,940
$92,520
Washington
$86,070
$100,360
California
$85,460
$87,570
District of Columbia
$82,730
$108,160
Rhode Island
$81,990
$88,130
Maryland
$81,190
$101,500
Connecticut
$81,030
$85,530
New Jersey
$80,570
$91,060
Hawaii
$80,360
$92,620
Delaware
$79,290
$95,040
Alabama
$74,990
$100,240
South Dakota
$74,950
$85,340
Oklahoma
$67,800
$93,640

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Cost Estimatorss or Business Operations Specialists, All Others?

Business Operations Specialists, All Others earn more nationally. The median is $78,740 for Cost Estimatorss versus $83,050 for Business Operations Specialists, All Others, a difference of $4K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Cost Estimators or Business Operations Specialists, All Other?

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 Business Operations Specialists, All Other?

Cost Estimators typically requires bachelor's degree. Business Operations Specialists, All Other 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. Business Operations Specialists, All Other pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Cost Estimatorss earn $100,840 vs. $93,270 for Business Operations Specialists, All Others. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Cost Estimators salary breakdownView →Full Business Operations Specialists, All Other salary breakdownView →Best cities for Cost Estimatorss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Business Operations Specialists, All Others by take-home payExplore →How to become a cost estimatorsGuide →How to become a business operations specialists, all otherGuide →