Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in South Carolina make a median of $70,260 a year, or about $33.78 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $75,411 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 27.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in South Carolina?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for cost estimators in South Carolina runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, South Carolina
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in South Carolina
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $73K | +4% | 540 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $70K | +0% | 130 |
| Spartanburg | $69K | -1% | 200 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $69K | -1% | 550 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $69K | -2% | 180 |
| Columbia | $66K | -6% | 490 |
| Sumter | $63K | -10% | 50 |
| Florence | $62K | -12% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 27.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,818/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 South Carolina?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $70K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for cost estimators?
South Carolina pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — below the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in South Carolina?
The median is $70,260 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,970, and experienced cost estimators can clear $119,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,579/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 27.6% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $75,411 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.