Cost Estimators Salary in Salinas, CA
Cost Estimators in Salinas, CA make a median of $78,640 a year, or about $37.81 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.04), so that salary is closer to $72,120 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,684/month — about 52.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $79K get you in Salinas?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salinas’s Regional Price Parity (109.04). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About cost estimators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Salinas, CA
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $85K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $103K | +33% | 5,340 |
| California | $85K | +10% | 25,580 |
| District of Columbia | $84K | +10% | 360 |
| New York | $83K | +8% | 9,790 |
| Washington | $83K | +8% | 7,320 |
| Maryland | $81K | +6% | 4,380 |
| New Jersey | $81K | +5% | 5,130 |
| Nevada | $80K | +4% | 2,370 |
| Minnesota | $80K | +4% | 4,170 |
| Illinois | $80K | +4% | 6,220 |
| Arizona | $79K | +3% | 4,540 |
| Utah | $79K | +3% | 2,500 |
| Oregon | $79K | +2% | 2,920 |
| Vermont | $79K | +2% | 450 |
| Hawaii | $79K | +2% | 960 |
| New Hampshire | $78K | +1% | 970 |
| Connecticut | $77K | +0% | 2,080 |
| Iowa | $76K | -1% | 2,090 |
| Michigan | $76K | -1% | 6,110 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | -1% | N/A |
| Virginia | $76K | -1% | 6,570 |
| Ohio | $75K | -2% | 8,500 |
| Delaware | $75K | -2% | 1,000 |
| Texas | $75K | -3% | 21,810 |
| Idaho | $75K | -3% | 1,630 |
| Wyoming | $75K | -3% | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $75K | -3% | 9,370 |
| Tennessee | $75K | -3% | 3,830 |
| Missouri | $73K | -5% | 6,990 |
| Maine | $73K | -5% | 780 |
| Georgia | $73K | -5% | 5,100 |
| South Dakota | $73K | -6% | 940 |
| Kansas | $73K | -6% | 2,520 |
| North Carolina | $72K | -6% | 6,620 |
| Florida | $72K | -7% | 14,640 |
| Wisconsin | $72K | -7% | 5,200 |
| Indiana | $72K | -7% | 4,800 |
| West Virginia | $71K | -8% | 830 |
| North Dakota | $70K | -9% | 620 |
| Kentucky | $69K | -10% | 2,290 |
| Nebraska | $69K | -10% | 1,580 |
| New Mexico | $69K | -10% | 980 |
| Louisiana | $69K | -11% | 2,410 |
| Montana | $68K | -11% | 1,210 |
| Alaska | $68K | -11% | 160 |
| Alabama | $68K | -12% | 2,460 |
| South Carolina | $67K | -13% | 2,460 |
| Mississippi | $66K | -14% | 1,300 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -17% | 2,100 |
| Arkansas | $63K | -18% | 1,370 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Salinas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cost estimators make in Salinas, CA?
The median is $78,640 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,090, and experienced cost estimators can clear $138,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Salinas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,022/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,684/month, which eats 53.4% 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 Salinas?
Salinas has a Regional Price Parity of 109.04 (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 $72,120 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.