Cost Estimators Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Cost Estimators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA make a median of $78,680 a year, or about $37.83 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $85,802 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 25.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $103K | +33% | 5,340 |
| California | $85K | +10% | 25,580 |
| District of Columbia | $84K | +10% | 360 |
| New York | $83K | +8% | 9,790 |
| Washington | $83K | +8% | 7,320 |
| Maryland | $81K | +6% | 4,380 |
| New Jersey | $81K | +5% | 5,130 |
| Nevada | $80K | +4% | 2,370 |
| Minnesota | $80K | +4% | 4,170 |
| Illinois | $80K | +4% | 6,220 |
| Arizona | $79K | +3% | 4,540 |
| Utah | $79K | +3% | 2,500 |
| Oregon | $79K | +2% | 2,920 |
| Vermont | $79K | +2% | 450 |
| Hawaii | $79K | +2% | 960 |
| New Hampshire | $78K | +1% | 970 |
| Connecticut | $77K | +0% | 2,080 |
| Iowa | $76K | -1% | 2,090 |
| Michigan | $76K | -1% | 6,110 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | -1% | N/A |
| Virginia | $76K | -1% | 6,570 |
| Ohio | $75K | -2% | 8,500 |
| Delaware | $75K | -2% | 1,000 |
| Texas | $75K | -3% | 21,810 |
| Idaho | $75K | -3% | 1,630 |
| Wyoming | $75K | -3% | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $75K | -3% | 9,370 |
| Tennessee | $75K | -3% | 3,830 |
| Missouri | $73K | -5% | 6,990 |
| Maine | $73K | -5% | 780 |
| Georgia | $73K | -5% | 5,100 |
| South Dakota | $73K | -6% | 940 |
| Kansas | $73K | -6% | 2,520 |
| North Carolina | $72K | -6% | 6,620 |
| Florida | $72K | -7% | 14,640 |
| Wisconsin | $72K | -7% | 5,200 |
| Indiana | $72K | -7% | 4,800 |
| West Virginia | $71K | -8% | 830 |
| North Dakota | $70K | -9% | 620 |
| Kentucky | $69K | -10% | 2,290 |
| Nebraska | $69K | -10% | 1,580 |
| New Mexico | $69K | -10% | 980 |
| Louisiana | $69K | -11% | 2,410 |
| Montana | $68K | -11% | 1,210 |
| Alaska | $68K | -11% | 160 |
| Alabama | $68K | -12% | 2,460 |
| South Carolina | $67K | -13% | 2,460 |
| Mississippi | $66K | -14% | 1,300 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -17% | 2,100 |
| Arkansas | $63K | -18% | 1,370 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cost estimators make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $78,680 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,810, and experienced cost estimators can clear $111,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,973/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 26.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a cost estimators salary go in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cost estimators salary is worth about $85,802 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.