Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Iowa make a median of $76,040 a year, or about $36.56 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $85,573 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 21.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Iowa?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Iowa
Cost estimators pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 22% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Iowa
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque | $83K | +9% | 80 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $79K | +3% | 190 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $79K | +3% | 550 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $77K | +1% | 120 |
| Ames | $77K | +1% | 50 |
| Iowa City | $75K | -1% | 90 |
| Sioux City | $72K | -5% | 70 |
| Cedar Rapids | $65K | -15% | 260 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,924/month. At HUD’s $1,064/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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Iowa pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Iowa?
The median is $76,040 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,740, and experienced cost estimators can clear $118,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,831/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 22% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $85,573 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.