Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in New Jersey make a median of $80,570 a year, or about $38.74 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $81,105 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 40.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in New Jersey?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Cost estimators pay in New Jersey tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 40% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $87K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in New Jersey
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $83K | +3% | 190 |
| Vineland | $83K | +2% | 80 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $69K | -15% | 180 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 40% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,023/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 New Jersey?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for cost estimators?
New Jersey pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in New Jersey?
The median is $80,570 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,390, and experienced cost estimators can clear $137,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,172/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 40% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cost estimators salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $81,105 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.