LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Cost Estimators in Raleigh, NC · Generated June 15, 2026
Cost Estimators Salary in Raleigh, NC $79,230/yr
$79,230
Mean: $83,030
~$61,799 est. take-home
$38.09
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Very affordable
Affordability score: 100/100
$2,874/mo
53%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$60,220
Median
$79,230
75th %
$100,780
Median is in the 47th percentile of the typical range
Cost Estimators in other NC cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in NC.
About Cost Estimators salaries in Raleigh, NC
Cost Estimators in Raleigh, NC earn a median of $79,230 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $83,030, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most cost estimators in this area earn between $60,220 and $100,780. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $38.09 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 Raleigh, NC
Median: $79,230/yr — browse openings that fit.
Cost Estimators jobs on Indeed
Search thousands of openings
Cost Estimators on LinkedIn
Network & apply
Cost Estimators on ZipRecruiter
AI-matched positions
Cost Estimators on Glassdoor
Salary + reviews
Boost your skills
Courses for Cost
External job listings · LocalSalaryHub may earn a referral fee
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a cost estimators in Raleigh?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $79,230. The average (mean) is $83,030, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a cost estimators make per hour in Raleigh?▾
About $38.09/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 Raleigh?▾
The middle 50% earn between $60,220 and $100,780. Below $60,220 is typically entry-level; above $100,780 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $79,230 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $79,230 | $61,799 |
| Monthly | $6,603 | $5,150 |
| Biweekly | $3,047 | $2,377 |
| Weekly | $1,524 | $1,188 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $38.09 | $29.71 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $43.53 | $33.96 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $50.79 | $39.61 |
| Daily (8h) | $305 | $238 |
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.
Related Occupations in Raleigh
Similar roles in the same field, ranked by national average salary.
Project Management Specialists
346 cities
Management Analysts
336 cities
Accountants and Auditors
348 cities
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
344 cities
Compliance Officers
346 cities
Buyers and Purchasing Agents
347 cities
Loan Officers
339 cities
Human Resources Specialists
348 cities
Get Salary Alerts
Be the first to know when Cost Estimators salaries change in Raleigh, NC.
Free alerts · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
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 NC salary data — every occupation we cover in NC, 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 Raleigh.
- Project Management Specialists salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $93,644.