Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Gadsden, AL make a median of $69,430 a year, or about $33.38 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.65), which stretches that salary to about $81,062 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $927/month, or 20.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $69K get you in Gadsden?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Gadsden’s Regional Price Parity (85.65). 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.
About cost estimators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Gadsden
Pay for cost estimators in Gadsden runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $927/month, 20.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.65 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Gadsden can be a reasonable trade-off for cost estimatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for cost estimators in metros near Gadsden, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $79K | $87K |
| Huntsville | $79K | $85K |
| Mobile | $77K | $87K |
| Montgomery | $75K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Gadsden, AL
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Cost Estimators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $101K | +28% | 4,520 |
| Alaska | $97K | +23% | 220 |
| Wyoming | $91K | +15% | 440 |
| Colorado | $87K | +10% | 6,100 |
| Washington | $86K | +9% | 7,470 |
| California | $85K | +9% | 26,020 |
| Illinois | $83K | +5% | 5,990 |
| District of Columbia | $83K | +5% | 270 |
| Nevada | $82K | +4% | 2,240 |
| Rhode Island | $82K | +4% | 590 |
| Vermont | $81K | +3% | 320 |
| Maryland | $81K | +3% | 4,580 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +3% | 2,350 |
| Minnesota | $81K | +3% | 4,310 |
| New Jersey | $81K | +2% | 5,240 |
| Virginia | $81K | +2% | 5,840 |
| Oregon | $80K | +2% | 2,940 |
| New York | $80K | +2% | 11,980 |
| Hawaii | $80K | +2% | 1,040 |
| Idaho | $80K | +1% | 1,600 |
| Utah | $80K | +1% | 2,800 |
| New Hampshire | $80K | +1% | 980 |
| Delaware | $79K | +1% | 730 |
| Pennsylvania | $78K | -0% | 9,420 |
| Michigan | $78K | -1% | 6,960 |
| Ohio | $78K | -1% | 8,100 |
| West Virginia | $77K | -2% | 830 |
| Montana | $77K | -2% | 1,230 |
| Louisiana | $77K | -2% | 2,680 |
| Arizona | $77K | -2% | 5,760 |
| Texas | $77K | -2% | 20,760 |
| Georgia | $77K | -2% | 6,010 |
| Wisconsin | $76K | -3% | 5,150 |
| Kansas | $76K | -3% | 2,250 |
| Iowa | $76K | -3% | 1,870 |
| Missouri | $76K | -3% | 6,580 |
| Tennessee | $76K | -4% | 4,340 |
| Florida | $75K | -5% | 13,720 |
| Alabama | $75K | -5% | 3,000 |
| South Dakota | $75K | -5% | 1,030 |
| Kentucky | $75K | -5% | 1,960 |
| North Carolina | $75K | -5% | 8,030 |
| Maine | $74K | -6% | 760 |
| Indiana | $73K | -7% | 4,810 |
| North Dakota | $73K | -7% | 730 |
| Nebraska | $73K | -7% | 1,330 |
| Mississippi | $71K | -10% | 1,280 |
| South Carolina | $70K | -11% | 2,880 |
| Oklahoma | $68K | -14% | 1,860 |
| New Mexico | $68K | -14% | 900 |
| Arkansas | $61K | -22% | 1,400 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Gadsden numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Gadsden?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 20.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $927/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Gadsden?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,563/month. At HUD’s $927/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Gadsden?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $69K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Gadsden compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Gadsden pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.65), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Gadsden, AL?
The median is $69,430 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,710, and experienced cost estimators can clear $99,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Gadsden?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,494/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $927/month, which eats 20.6% 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 Gadsden?
Gadsden has a Regional Price Parity of 85.65 (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 $81,062 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.