Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Rhode Island make a median of $81,990 a year, or about $39.42 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $80,564 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,544/month, or 30% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $82K get you in Rhode Island?
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Cost estimators pay in Rhode Island tracks closely to the national median, $82K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,544/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $88K | +7% | 960 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,611/month. At HUD’s $1,544/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 Rhode Island?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Rhode Island pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Rhode Island?
The median is $81,990 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,180, and experienced cost estimators can clear $130,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,281/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 29.2% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cost estimators salary is worth about $80,564 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.