Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Mississippi make a median of $71,230 a year, or about $34.24 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $80,124 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,077/month, or 23% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Mississippi. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in Mississippi?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Mississippi
Cost estimators pay in Mississippi tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,077/month, 23.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Mississippi
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Mississippi
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $75K | +6% | 270 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi | $73K | +3% | 190 |
| Hattiesburg | $66K | -7% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Mississippi numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mississippi?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 23.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,496/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Mississippi?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Mississippi pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Mississippi?
The median is $71,230 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,600, and experienced cost estimators can clear $118,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,596/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 23.4% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (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 $80,124 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.