Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Florida make a median of $74,990 a year, or about $36.05 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $76,070 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 31.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in Florida?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Florida
Cost estimators pay in Florida tracks closely to the national median, $75K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,658/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) 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, Florida
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Florida
21 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $79K | +5% | 2,330 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $76K | +2% | 140 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $76K | +2% | 60 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $76K | +2% | 2,120 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $76K | +1% | 3,230 |
| Naples-Marco Island | $75K | +0% | 280 |
| Punta Gorda | $74K | -1% | 70 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $74K | -2% | 610 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $73K | -2% | 420 |
| Port St. Lucie | $72K | -4% | 280 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $72K | -4% | 630 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $72K | -5% | 280 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $71K | -6% | 360 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $70K | -6% | 240 |
| Jacksonville | $69K | -8% | 1,160 |
| Tallahassee | $68K | -10% | 190 |
| Gainesville | $68K | -10% | 150 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $66K | -12% | 150 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $65K | -13% | 90 |
| Ocala | $64K | -15% | 210 |
| Homosassa Springs | $61K | -19% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 21 metros
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 32.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,652/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 Florida?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $75K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Florida compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Florida pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Florida?
The median is $74,990 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,200, and experienced cost estimators can clear $128,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,095/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 32.5% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $76,070 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.