Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Jackson, TN make a median of $69,380 a year, or about $33.36 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.52), which stretches that salary to about $81,127 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,260/month, or 26.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $69K actually covers in Jackson, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Jackson’s Regional Price Parity (85.52). 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 Jackson
Pay for cost estimators in Jackson runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,260/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.52 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for cost estimators in metros near Jackson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $81K | $84K |
| Memphis | $77K | $83K |
| Knoxville | $73K | $79K |
| Chattanooga | $70K | $77K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Jackson, TN
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $71K 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 annually. We'll email you when Jackson numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Jackson?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 26.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,260/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Jackson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,139/month. At HUD’s $1,260/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Jackson?
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 Jackson compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Jackson pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.52), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Jackson, TN?
The median is $69,380 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,350, and experienced cost estimators can clear $115,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Jackson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,766/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,260/month, which eats 26.4% 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 Jackson?
Jackson has a Regional Price Parity of 85.52 (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 $81,127 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.