LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Cost Estimators in Des Moines, IA · Generated June 14, 2026
Cost Estimators Salary in Des Moines, IA $78,500/yr
$78,500
Mean: $79,690
~$61,230 est. take-home
$37.74
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Very affordable
Affordability score: 100/100
$2,757/mo
52%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$59,490
Median
$78,500
75th %
$94,740
Median is in the 54th percentile of the typical range
Cost Estimators in other IA cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in IA.
About Cost Estimators salaries in Des Moines, IA
Cost Estimators in Des Moines, IA earn a median of $78,500 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $79,690, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most cost estimators in this area earn between $59,490 and $94,740. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $37.74 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
3% growth. AI can help with quantity takeoffs, but experienced estimators who understand construction methods, supply chain volatility, and risk assessment are still essential. Bad estimates cost companies millions — the human judgment isn't going away.
Worth knowing: Professional certification (CPE or CCP) is the ticket to higher pay. Estimators who specialize in green building and renewable energy projects are in particularly high demand.
Cost Estimators Jobs in Des Moines, IA
Median: $78,500/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a cost estimators in Des Moines?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $78,500. The average (mean) is $79,690, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a cost estimators make per hour in Des Moines?▾
About $37.74/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for cost estimators in Des Moines?▾
The middle 50% earn between $59,490 and $94,740. Below $59,490 is typically entry-level; above $94,740 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $78,500 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $78,500 | $61,230 |
| Monthly | $6,542 | $5,103 |
| Biweekly | $3,019 | $2,355 |
| Weekly | $1,510 | $1,178 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $37.74 | $29.44 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $43.13 | $33.64 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $50.32 | $39.25 |
| Daily (8h) | $302 | $236 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Cost Estimators: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for cost estimators, based on BLS median salary data.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Cost Estimators salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for cost estimators across all states.
- All IA salary data — every occupation we cover in IA, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Cost Estimators in Boston, MA — the top-paying city for cost estimators in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Des Moines.
- Project Management Specialists salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $93,644.