Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Ohio make a median of $77,730 a year, or about $37.37 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $84,997 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 23.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Ohio?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Ohio
Cost estimators pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 23.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $80K | +3% | 1,570 |
| Cincinnati | $79K | +2% | 1,630 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $79K | +2% | 590 |
| Springfield | $78K | +1% | 50 |
| Cleveland | $78K | +1% | 1,390 |
| Akron | $77K | -0% | 530 |
| Sandusky | $77K | -0% | 60 |
| Toledo | $77K | -1% | 430 |
| Canton-Massillon | $75K | -4% | 290 |
| Lima | $74K | -4% | 60 |
| Mansfield | $72K | -7% | 70 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $71K | -9% | 290 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 23.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,925/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Ohio pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Ohio?
The median is $77,730 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,750, and experienced cost estimators can clear $124,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,135/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 23.1% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $84,997 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.