Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Tennessee make a median of $75,650 a year, or about $36.37 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $84,262 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 23.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Tennessee?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Cost estimators pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $81K | +7% | 1,570 |
| Memphis | $77K | +1% | 630 |
| Cleveland | $74K | -2% | 60 |
| Knoxville | $73K | -4% | 540 |
| Morristown | $71K | -6% | 70 |
| Clarksville | $71K | -6% | 110 |
| Chattanooga | $70K | -7% | 440 |
| Jackson | $69K | -8% | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $69K | -9% | 190 |
| Johnson City | $62K | -18% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,546/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Tennessee pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Tennessee?
The median is $75,650 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,440, and experienced cost estimators can clear $120,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,134/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 23.7% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $84,262 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.