Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Johnstown, PA make a median of $63,860 a year, or about $30.7 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.93), which stretches that salary to about $74,316 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,035/month, or 24.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $64K get you in Johnstown?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Johnstown’s Regional Price Parity (85.93). 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 Johnstown
Pay for cost estimators in Johnstown runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $79K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,035/month, 24.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.93 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Johnstown 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 Johnstown, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $80K | $78K |
| Pittsburgh | $78K | $82K |
| Lancaster | $77K | $79K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $77K | $77K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Johnstown, PA
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $72K 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 Johnstown numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Johnstown?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 24.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,035/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Johnstown?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,452/month. At HUD’s $1,035/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Johnstown?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $64K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Johnstown compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Johnstown pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.93), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Johnstown, PA?
The median is $63,860 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,860, and experienced cost estimators can clear $112,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Johnstown?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,279/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,035/month, which eats 24.2% 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 Johnstown?
Johnstown has a Regional Price Parity of 85.93 (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 $74,316 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.