Cost Estimators

What Cost Estimators Do

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.

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience

None

On-the-job training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Self-employed

0.3%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

• Mathematicsimportance 4.4/5
• Economics and Accountingimportance 4.0/5
• Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.5/5
• Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.4/5
• Building and Constructionimportance 3.3/5
• Administration and Managementimportance 3.2/5
• English Languageimportance 3.2/5
• Designimportance 3.1/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

• E-Mail5.0/5
• Telephone Conversations4.8/5
• Spend Time Sitting4.6/5
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.5/5
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.3/5
• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.1/5

Related Careers

• Logisticians
• Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Construction Managers
• Industrial Engineers
• Architectural and Engineering Managers
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
• Architectural and Civil Drafters
• Civil Engineers

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

• Budget Analysts99% skill match
• Marketing Managers97% skill match
• Chief Executives97% skill match
• Advertising and Promotions Managers97% skill match
• Sales Managers97% skill match
• Fundraising Managers96% skill match
• Compensation and Benefits Managers96% skill match
• Financial Managers96% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

• Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.6/5
• Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.4/5
• Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.1/5
• Coordinationimportance 3.1/5
• Management of Financial Resourcesimportance 3.1/5
• Persuasionimportance 3.0/5
• Negotiationimportance 3.0/5
• Systems Analysisimportance 3.0/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

• Attention to Detail
• Dependability
• Integrity
• Cautiousness
• Perseverance
• Self-Confidence
• Achievement Orientation

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

• ConventionalHigh
• EnterprisingMedium
• InvestigativeMedium
• RealisticMedium
• SocialLow
• ArtisticLow

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where cost estimators make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).

1. 1Bozeman, MT2.39× national avg
2. 2Billings, MT2.07× national avg
3. 3Sioux Falls, SD-MN1.98× national avg
4. 4Greeley, CO1.96× national avg
5. 5Lancaster, PA1.94× national avg

Possible Career Moves

A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.

• Medical and Health Services ManagersCareer Change
• Financial ManagersCareer Change
• Purchasing ManagersCareer Change
• Marketing ManagersCareer Change

See the full career path from Cost Estimators →

Related Education Programs

Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.