Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Colorado make a median of $86,940 a year, or about $41.8 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $83,830 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 32.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $87K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Colorado
Cost estimators pay in Colorado tracks closely to the national median, $87K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,832/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Colorado
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $90K | +3% | 3,690 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $90K | +3% | 290 |
| Greeley | $87K | +0% | 340 |
| Colorado Springs | $85K | -2% | 720 |
| Pueblo | $85K | -3% | 140 |
| Grand Junction | $79K | -10% | 160 |
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Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 33.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,897/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cost estimator a high-paying job in Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $87K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Colorado pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Colorado?
The median is $86,940 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,890, and experienced cost estimators can clear $137,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,477/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 33.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cost estimators salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cost estimators salary is worth about $83,830 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cost estimators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.