Cost Estimators in Washington. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Washington cost estimators fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $70,720 and $108,120, with a median of $86,070.
Cost Estimators in Washington: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 14 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $91,694. 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 | $70,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $90,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $170,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $125,798 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Cost Estimators in Washington. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Corporation | Business Program Management | 2 | $173,350 |
| Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects LLC | Cost Manager | 1 | $130,000 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Project Controls Analyst III | 1 | $88,968 |
| Currie & Brown, Inc. | Assistant Cost Manager | 1 | $60,000 |
| Drew Collaborative Works | Construction Cost Estimator | 1 | $80,000 |
| FIVE STAR GRANITE INC | COST ANALYST | 1 | $84,000 |
| Foushee and Associates Company, Inc. | Project Engineer | 1 | $92,500 |
| Kiewit Engineering Group Inc. | Structural Estimator | 1 | $90,888 |
| M. A. Mortenson Company | Estimator III | 1 | $117,300 |
| Su Development Master Limited Partnership | Project Cost Manager | 1 | $60,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Structural Estimator at Kiewit Engineering Group Inc.$90,888RedmondWage Level IIDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26062-675676
- Cost Manager at Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects LLC$130,000BellevueWage Level IDecided Feb 18, 2026I-200-26041-630057
- Estimator/Financial Analyst at Sunset Grill Construction LLC$90,000SeattleWage Level IIDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-365162
- Senior Consultant at TURNER & TOWNSEND INC$100,000SeattleWage Level IIIDecided Aug 22, 2025I-203-25227-244514
- Estimator III at M. A. Mortenson Company$117,300KirklandWage Level IVDecided Jun 27, 2025I-200-25171-114789
- Sr. Consultant, Cost Management at Turner & Townsend, Inc.$134,296SeattleWage Level IVDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-050053
- Project Controls Analyst III at AECOM Technical Services, Inc.$88,968SeattleWage Level IIDecided Jun 2, 2025I-200-25147-018079
- Construction Cost Estimator at Drew Collaborative Works$80,000BellevueWage Level IDecided May 27, 2025I-200-25139-992814
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 Washington
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 in Washington, by industry
Median offered wage across 8 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $94,484.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects LLC | 6 | $94,484 |
| Technology and software | Microsoft Corporation | 2 | $173,350 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Washington 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Washington
Metro-level salary data for cost estimators in major Washington metropolitan areas.
- Seattle$94,490
Compare Cost Estimators pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Washington with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Cost Estimators in Washington?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Cost Estimators in Washington is $86,070.
- How does Washington compare to the national median for Cost Estimators?
- The Washington median is +8.5% versus the BLS national figure of $79,322.
- What is the salary range for Cost Estimators in Washington?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $59,650 and the 90th-percentile at $141,540, 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.