Salary distribution
Where Tennessee cost estimators fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $60,370 and $94,840, with a median of $74,570.
Cost Estimators in Tennessee: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 7 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $70,000. 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 | 4 | $60,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 2 | $81,337 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $76,398 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Cost Estimators in Tennessee. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batten & Shaw, Inc. | Estimator | 1 | $70,000 |
| Rama Papermill LLC | Financial Analyst | 1 | $45,001 |
| Beruk Construction Inc. | Project Analyst | 1 | $50,000 |
| Connico, LLC | Analyst II | 1 | $90,000 |
| Grinder, Taber & Grinder, Inc. | Commercial Project Estimator | 1 | $76,398 |
| Turner Construction Company | Estimator | 1 | $96,000 |
| Kasai North America, Inc. | Cost Engineer | 1 | $66,675 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Estimator at Batten & Shaw, Inc.$70,000NashvilleWage Level IDecided Sep 8, 2025I-200-25243-278693
- Financial Analyst at Rama Papermill LLC$45,001KNOXVILLEWage Level IDecided May 29, 2025I-200-25141-003318
- Project Analyst at Beruk Construction Inc.$50,000MemphisWage Level IDecided May 27, 2025I-200-25139-993434
- Analyst II at Connico, LLC$90,000Mount JulietWage Level IDecided May 8, 2025I-200-25121-926630
- Commercial Project Estimator at Grinder, Taber & Grinder, Inc.$76,398MemphisWage Level IIIDecided Apr 8, 2025I-200-25091-816776
- Estimator at Turner Construction Company$96,000NashvilleWage Level IIDecided Jan 2, 2025I-200-24358-567173
- Cost Engineer at Kasai North America, Inc.$66,675MurfreesboroWage Level IIDecided Oct 22, 2024I-200-24289-408014
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 Tennessee
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.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Cost Estimators in Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Cost Estimators in Tennessee is $74,570.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Cost Estimators?
- The Tennessee median is -3.4% versus the BLS national figure of $77,225.
- What is the salary range for Cost Estimators in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $46,540 and the 90th-percentile at $114,550, 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.