Cost Estimators in Illinois. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Illinois cost estimators fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $61,710 and $108,240, with a median of $82,750.
Cost Estimators in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 38 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $97,056. 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 | 5 | $64,667 |
| Level II — qualified | 12 | $79,727 |
| Level III — experienced | 11 | $111,653 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 10 | $127,500 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Cost Estimators in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pan-Oceanic Engineering Co. | Construction Estimator | 3 | $110,250 |
| Indecor Group, Inc. | Estimator | 2 | $74,688 |
| John Burns Construction Company, LLC | Estimator III | 2 | $111,653 |
| Mercury Partners 90 Bi, Inc. | Project Coordinator/Estimator | 2 | $80,599 |
| Regal Steel Group Ltd | Cost Estimator/Assistant Project Manager | 2 | $69,258 |
| AMETEK Magnetrol USA, LLC | Project Quotations Specialist | 1 | $64,667 |
| Avangrid Power, LLC | Senior Manager - CAPEX Estimating - KBGFJG178678-7 | 1 | $135,000 |
| Barry Callebaut USA LLC | Commercial Analyst | 1 | $70,000 |
| CNH Industrial America LLC | Cost Optimization Specialist | 1 | $130,000 |
| CSI 3000 Transport Corp. | Cost Estimator | 1 | $102,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Project Engineer - Cost Estimator at Level Construction, Inc.$120,000HARWOOD HEIGHTSWage Level IIIDecided —I-200-26084-728558
- Project Coordinator/Estimator at Mercury Partners 90 Bi, Inc.$80,079Elk Grove VillageWage Level IIDecided Feb 18, 2026I-200-26041-630833
- Program Manager at Google LLC$171,000ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided Feb 2, 2026I-200-26026-589760
- Construction Project Management at Microsoft Corporation$177,970NorthlakeWage Level IIIDecided Jan 6, 2026I-200-25363-513103
- Estimator III at John Burns Construction Company LLC$100,547WestmontWage Level IVDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25310-385315
- Senior Consultant, Cost Management at Turner & Townsend, Inc.$140,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Aug 28, 2025I-200-25233-259666
- Cost Optimization Specialist at CNH Industrial America LLC$130,000Oak BrookWage Level IVDecided Aug 22, 2025I-200-25227-245834
- Senior Manager - CAPEX Estimating - KBGFJG178678-7 at Avangrid Power, LLC$135,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Aug 21, 2025I-200-25226-243677
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.
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Cost Estimators pay by experience level in Illinois
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 Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 17 certified offers. The most common variant is Estimator at a median of $95,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimator | Indecor Group, Inc. | 11 | $95,000 |
| Construction Estimator | Pan-Oceanic Engineering Co. | 3 | $110,250 |
| Cost Estimator | CSI 3000 Transport Corp. | 3 | $102,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Cost Estimators in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 21 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $70,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Regal Steel Group Ltd | 7 | $70,000 |
| Professional services | Pan-Oceanic Engineering Co. | 7 | $111,005 |
| Retail and wholesale | Mercury Partners 90 Bi, Inc. | 3 | $80,079 |
| Technology and software | Google LLC | 2 | $174,485 |
| Energy and utilities | Avangrid Power, LLC | 1 | $135,000 |
| Transportation and logistics | CSI 3000 Transport Corp. | 1 | $102,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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 Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$83,640
Compare Cost Estimators pay across nearby states
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Cost Estimators in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Cost Estimators in Illinois is $82,750.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Cost Estimators?
- The Illinois median is +4.3% versus the BLS national figure of $79,322.
- What is the salary range for Cost Estimators in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $49,200 and the 90th-percentile at $136,590, 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.