Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia cost estimators fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $81,420 and $107,890, with a median of $84,410.
Cost Estimators in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 8 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $77,750. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 1 | $67,500 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $88,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $125,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $120,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Cost Estimators in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| IOS Employment, LLC | Cost Estimator | 3 | $64,890 |
| HRGM Corporation | Estimator | 3 | $110,000 |
| Marous Brothers Construction Inc. | Project Engineer | 1 | $67,500 |
| MCN Build, Inc. | Sr. Construction Project Estimator | 1 | $120,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Cost Estimator at IOS Employment, LLC$64,890WashingtonDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-363506
- Estimator at HRGM Corporation$110,000WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Sep 23, 2025I-200-25259-311476
- Project Engineer at Marous Brothers Construction Inc.$67,500WashingtonWage Level IDecided Jul 30, 2025I-200-25204-194620
- Sr. Construction Project Estimator at MCN Build, Inc.$120,000WashingtonWage Level IVDecided May 13, 2025I-200-25126-942971
- Cost Estimator at IOS Employment, LLC$64,890WashingtonDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-359291
- Cost Estimator at IOS Employment, LLC$64,890WashingtonDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-345462
- Estimator at HRGM Corporation$88,000WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Jun 24, 2025I-200-25167-098416
- Senior Estimator at HRGM Corporation$140,000WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided May 23, 2025I-200-25136-987486
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Cost Estimators pay by experience level in District of Columbia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Cost Estimators specialties in District of Columbia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 6 certified offers. The most common variant is Cost Estimator at a median of $64,890.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Estimator | IOS Employment, LLC | 3 | $64,890 |
| Estimator | HRGM Corporation | 3 | $110,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.4 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Inductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Mathematics
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
- 02
Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
- 03
Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
- 04
Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
- 05
Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
- 06
Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.
- 07
Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
- 08
Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
-4.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Declining
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for cost estimators in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$84,090
Compare Cost Estimators pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Cost Estimators in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Cost Estimators in District of Columbia is $84,410.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Cost Estimators?
- The District of Columbia median is +9.3% versus the BLS national figure of $77,225.
- What is the salary range for Cost Estimators in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $78,840 and the 90th-percentile at $125,370, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Cost Estimators a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment declining by -4.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Cost Estimators?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.