Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Indiana make a median of $73,430 a year, or about $35.3 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $79,980 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 23.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Indiana?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Indiana
Cost estimators pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Indiana
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $81K | +10% | 50 |
| Evansville | $77K | +5% | 240 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $77K | +4% | 1,690 |
| Kokomo | $76K | +4% | 40 |
| Bloomington | $76K | +4% | 70 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $75K | +2% | 120 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $72K | -3% | 170 |
| Fort Wayne | $71K | -3% | 380 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $71K | -4% | 190 |
| Michigan City-La Porte | $69K | -6% | 60 |
| Muncie | $64K | -13% | 50 |
| Terre Haute | $61K | -17% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,038/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Indiana pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Indiana?
The median is $73,430 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,630, and experienced cost estimators can clear $106,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,817/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 23.7% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $79,980 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.