Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Kentucky make a median of $74,880 a year, or about $36 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $82,988 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 22.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in Kentucky?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Cost estimators pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $75K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (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, Kentucky
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | $83K | +10% | 80 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $77K | +3% | 810 |
| Bowling Green | $72K | -4% | 70 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $72K | -4% | 330 |
| Owensboro | $70K | -6% | 50 |
| Elizabethtown | $69K | -7% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,785/month. At HUD’s $1,110/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 Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $75K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Kentucky pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Kentucky?
The median is $74,880 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,410, and experienced cost estimators can clear $119,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,839/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 22.9% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $82,988 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.