Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Grand Island, NE make a median of $64,200 a year, or about $30.87 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 86.66), which stretches that salary to about $74,083 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,049/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $64K get you in Grand Island?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Grand Island’s Regional Price Parity (86.66). 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
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What this looks like in Grand Island
Pay for cost estimators in Grand Island runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,049/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 86.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Grand Island 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 Grand Island, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $76K | $83K |
| Lincoln | $76K | $83K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $90K | , |
| St. Louis | $79K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Grand Island, NE
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $50K 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 |
| Alabama | $75K | -5% | 3,000 |
| Florida | $75K | -5% | 13,720 |
| 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Grand Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Grand Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,049/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Grand Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,055/month. At HUD’s $1,049/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Grand Island?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $64K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Grand Island compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Grand Island pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 86.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Grand Island, NE?
The median is $64,200 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,910, and experienced cost estimators can clear $101,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Grand Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,244/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,049/month, which eats 24.7% 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 Grand Island?
Grand Island has a Regional Price Parity of 86.66 (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 $74,083 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.