Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Virginia make a median of $80,530 a year, or about $38.72 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $84,956 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in Virginia?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Virginia
Cost estimators pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $81K | +0% | 1,440 |
| Charlottesville | $78K | -3% | 120 |
| Richmond | $78K | -4% | 1,080 |
| Winchester | $76K | -6% | 100 |
| Lynchburg | $75K | -7% | 170 |
| Harrisonburg | $74K | -8% | 100 |
| Roanoke | $71K | -11% | 190 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $67K | -17% | N/A |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $66K | -18% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 32.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,989/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Virginia pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Virginia?
The median is $80,530 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,820, and experienced cost estimators can clear $129,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,077/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 32.4% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $84,956 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.