Cost Estimators Salary
Cost Estimators in Wisconsin make a median of $76,270 a year, or about $36.67 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $80,854 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Wisconsin?
About cost estimators
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Cost estimators pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 24.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level cost estimators (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Cost Estimators salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $79K | +4% | 130 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $78K | +2% | 1,400 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $78K | +2% | 140 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $78K | +2% | 130 |
| Eau Claire | $77K | +1% | 140 |
| Appleton | $76K | -0% | 290 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $76K | -1% | 200 |
| Sheboygan | $75K | -1% | 120 |
| Fond du Lac | $75K | -1% | 90 |
| Green Bay | $74K | -3% | 400 |
| Madison | $73K | -4% | 720 |
| Wausau | $72K | -6% | 150 |
| Kenosha | $68K | -10% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
Track cost estimators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cost estimator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 24.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cost estimators in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cost estimators typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,053/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for cost estimators?
Wisconsin pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cost estimators make in Wisconsin?
The median is $76,270 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,890, and experienced cost estimators can clear $111,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,921/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 24.4% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $80,854 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.