Occupational Employment Statistics

DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

13-1051 Cost Estimators

Occupational Description:
Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
First Quarter 2026

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Minnesota	4,310	263	$41.69/hr	$27.69/hr	$31.94/hr	$39.50/hr	$48.64/hr	$61.28/hr

Leading Industries for Cost Estimators

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and Mining	N/A	N/A
Construction	1,830	$45.03/hr
Manufacturing	970	$37.31/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	610	$36.61/hr
Professional and Business Services	390	$39.64/hr
Education and Health Services	N/A	N/A
Other Services	500	$39.25/hr

Other Regional Data for Cost Estimators

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Northeast Balance of State	40	$36.25/hr	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	80	$36.50/hr	N/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA	90	$35.84/hr	N/A
Rochester MN MSA	120	$37.60/hr	N/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA	140	$37.99/hr	N/A
Northeast Minnesota	150	$39.77/hr	1.5%
Duluth MN-WI MSA	160	$38.73/hr	N/A
Southwest Balance of State	170	$38.65/hr	N/A
Southeast Balance of State	170	$37.69/hr	N/A
St Cloud MN MSA	200	$37.63/hr	N/A
Northwest Balance of State	200	$37.67/hr	N/A
Northwest Minnesota	230	$37.70/hr	1.7%
Southwest Minnesota	240	$36.50/hr	-1.2%
Southeast Minnesota	250	$37.90/hr	0.5%
Fargo ND-MN MSA	320	$36.05/hr	N/A
Central Minnesota	590	$40.53/hr	4.9%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	2,700	$39.88/hr	1.1%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	3,100	$40.31/hr	N/A
Minnesota	4,310	$39.50/hr	1.7%

Related Occupations

Occupations	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Purchasing Managers	1,340	$70.79/hr	7.4%
Logisticians	3,450	$40.24/hr	19.6%
Civil Engineers	4,710	$50.16/hr	8.3%
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	4,030	$57.77/hr	8.9%
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers	4,480	$31.72/hr	4.0%
Industrial Engineers	17,580	$50.73/hr	16.6%
Business Operations Specialists, All Other	16,410	$38.04/hr	5.1%

Task for Cost Estimators

Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
Prepare cost and expenditure statements and other necessary documentation at regular intervals for the duration of the project.
Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.
Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
Review material and labor requirements to decide whether it is more cost-effective to produce or purchase components.
Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.