Cost Estimators in North Carolina. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where North Carolina cost estimators fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $57,680 and $94,320, with a median of $74,730.
Cost Estimators in North Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 22 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $113,223. 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 | 2 | $57,527 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $105,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $80,600 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 11 | $136,500 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Cost Estimators in North Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soben North America, LLC | Senior Cost Manager | 3 | $160,000 |
| Accenture Infrastructure & Capital Projects, LLC | Senior Cost Manager | 2 | $162,289 |
| Cooper Tacia General Contracting Company | Construction Estimator | 2 | $97,500 |
| Cumming Management Group, Inc. | Cost Manager | 2 | $112,500 |
| Lithko Contracting, LLC | Estimator | 2 | $75,300 |
| Archetype Re Development LLC | Assistant Project Manager | 1 | $70,000 |
| Flatiron Construction Corp. | Cost Engineer II | 1 | $106,445 |
| Graycor Industrial Constructors, Inc. | Senior Preconstruction Estimator | 1 | $136,500 |
| Madras Construction Inc. | Lead Cost Estimator | 1 | $91,229 |
| Maha Engineering, PLLC | Cost Estimator I | 1 | $45,053 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Estimator at Morgan Corp.$129,202CharlotteWage Level IVDecided Feb 25, 2026I-200-26049-648030
- Estimator at Cooper Tacia General Contracting Company$100,000RaleighWage Level IIDecided Feb 3, 2026I-200-26027-594095
- Cost Lead at Strata Solar, LLC$125,000DurhamWage Level IVDecided Feb 2, 2026I-200-26026-589945
- Senior Cost Manager at Accenture Infrastructure & Capital Projects, LLC$170,077RaleighWage Level IVDecided Jan 21, 2026I-200-26013-554316
- Lead Cost Estimator at Madras Construction Inc.$91,229MooresvilleWage Level IVDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-489844
- Cost Engineer II at Flatiron Construction Corp.$106,445RaleighWage Level IIDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-419069
- Senior Preconstruction Estimator at Graycor Industrial Constructors, Inc.$136,500CharlotteWage Level IVDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-373847
- Senior Cost Manager at Accenture Infrastructure & Capital Projects, LLC$154,500GarnerWage Level IVDecided Nov 6, 2025I-200-25272-342900
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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 13 certified offers. The most common variant is Senior Cost Manager at a median of $152,250.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Cost Manager | Soben North America, LLC | 8 | $152,250 |
| Estimator | Lithko Contracting, LLC | 5 | $80,600 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Cost Estimators in North Carolina, by industry
Median offered wage across 14 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $130,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Soben North America, LLC | 11 | $130,000 |
| Energy and utilities | Strata Solar, LLC | 1 | $125,000 |
| Manufacturing | RidgeRock Retaining Walls, LLC | 1 | $65,000 |
| Real estate | Archetype Re Development LLC | 1 | $70,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in North Carolina 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Cost Estimators in North Carolina?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Cost Estimators in North Carolina is $74,730.
- How does North Carolina compare to the national median for Cost Estimators?
- The North Carolina median is -5.8% versus the BLS national figure of $79,322.
- What is the salary range for Cost Estimators in North Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $43,580 and the 90th-percentile at $123,240, 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.