Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Hawaii make a median of $80,360 a year, or about $38.63 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $139K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $72,942 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 44.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Hawaii?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Cost estimators pay in Hawaii tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 45.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $139K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Hawaii
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku | $88K | +9% | 100 |
| Urban Honolulu | $80K | -0% | 830 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 45.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/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 Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,762/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 81% 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 Hawaii?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Hawaii pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — below the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Hawaii?
The median is $80,360 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,030, and experienced cost estimators can clear $139,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,935/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 45.4% 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 Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (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 $72,942 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.