Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Kansas make a median of $76,250 a year, or about $36.66 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.54), which stretches that salary to about $85,157 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,066/month, or 21.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Kansas?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Kansas
Cost estimators pay in Kansas 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 $1,066/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kansas
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Kansas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | $79K | +3% | 80 |
| Topeka | $78K | +2% | 200 |
| Wichita | $75K | -2% | 570 |
| Lawrence | $71K | -7% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,066/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Kansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,932/month. At HUD’s $1,066/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 Kansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Kansas compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Kansas pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Kansas?
The median is $76,250 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,860, and experienced cost estimators can clear $118,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Kansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,862/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,066/month, which eats 21.9% 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 Kansas?
Kansas has a Regional Price Parity of 89.54 (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 $85,157 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.