Salary distribution
Where Virginia cost estimators fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $58,790 and $96,240, with a median of $75,970.
Cost Estimators in Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 23 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $87,318. 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 | 8 | $68,839 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $75,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $87,318 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $108,129 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Cost Estimators in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPR Construction, A General Partnership | Estimator (SP) “ Division 7 | 3 | $91,686 |
| Bechtel Infrastructure and Power Corporation | Renewables Project Estimator | 2 | $102,024 |
| CMA CGM (AMERICA) LLC | Senior Cost Controller | 2 | $95,629 |
| Traylor Bros., Inc. | Senior Estimator | 1 | $93,649 |
| Greython Construction LLC | Mechanical Estimator | 1 | $150,000 |
| Warwick Plumbing and Heating Corporation | Senior Estimator | 1 | $92,872 |
| Turner & Townsend, Inc. | Sr. Consultant, Cost Management | 1 | $130,000 |
| Engivision Systems LLC | Cost Estimator | 1 | $54,434 |
| John Moriarty & Associates of Virginia, LLC | Cost Estimator | 1 | $105,000 |
| I Remodel & Design LLC | COST ESTIMATOR | 1 | $54,434 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Estimator at Traylor Bros., Inc.$93,649HopewellDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-501673
- Estimator (SP) “ Division 7 at DPR Construction, A General Partnership$135,000RestonDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25315-397126
- Mechanical Estimator at Greython Construction LLC$150,000KilmarnockDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-365526
- Senior Estimator at Warwick Plumbing and Heating Corporation$92,872Newport NewsWage Level IVDecided Aug 21, 2025I-200-25226-241719
- Sr. Consultant, Cost Management at Turner & Townsend, Inc.$130,000SandstonWage Level IVDecided Aug 15, 2025I-200-25220-230254
- Cost Estimator at Engivision Systems LLC$54,434HerndonWage Level IDecided Jun 20, 2025I-200-25163-085841
- Cost Estimator at John Moriarty & Associates of Virginia, LLC$105,000ArlingtonWage Level IVDecided Jun 12, 2025I-200-25156-058279
- Renewables Project Estimator at Bechtel Infrastructure and Power Corporation$99,996RestonWage Level IDecided Jun 10, 2025I-200-25154-048155
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 Virginia
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 Virginia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 11 certified offers. The most common variant is Senior Estimator at a median of $89,679.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Estimator | Traylor Bros., Inc. | 6 | $89,679 |
| Cost Estimator | Engivision Systems LLC | 5 | $56,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Cost Estimators in Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 11 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $99,996.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Bechtel Infrastructure and Power Corporation | 7 | $99,996 |
| Transportation and logistics | CMA CGM (AMERICA) LLC | 2 | $95,629 |
| Manufacturing | GLOBAL EXCHANGE CONNECTION LLC | 2 | $56,652 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Virginia 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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Cost Estimators
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Virginia
Metro-level salary data for cost estimators in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Virginia Beach$78,430
- Richmond$69,340
Compare Cost Estimators pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Cost Estimators in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Cost Estimators in Virginia is $75,970.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Cost Estimators?
- The Virginia median is -1.6% versus the BLS national figure of $77,225.
- What is the salary range for Cost Estimators in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $44,880 and the 90th-percentile at $119,610, 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.