Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Louisiana make a median of $77,030 a year, or about $37.03 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $88,256 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Louisiana?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Cost estimators pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 23.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $81K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Louisiana
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $85K | +10% | 940 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $81K | +5% | 470 |
| Lafayette | $75K | -2% | 210 |
| Alexandria | $75K | -3% | 60 |
| Lake Charles | $75K | -3% | 190 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $74K | -4% | 100 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $72K | -6% | 140 |
| Monroe | $68K | -12% | 100 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $66K | -14% | 200 |
| Hammond | $60K | -22% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 23.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,630/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Louisiana pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Louisiana?
The median is $77,030 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,840, and experienced cost estimators can clear $125,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,990/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 23.9% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $88,256 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.