While the job is taxing, the salary and benefits seem to keep drawing more people in.
While the job is taxing, the salary and benefits seem to keep drawing more people in. So, have you been planning on pursuing a career in construction estimation? Or are you planning to switch fields and want to know how much a construction estimator makes? These answers are discussed thoroughly in this article.
The expected average income for junior construction estimators across the country is between $75,000-$94,000. This income estimate can vary based on several factors, including state, work experience, the type of project in question, etc.
When looking at the pay scale for the job, construction estimators at the lower end of the spectrum, or the bottom 10% of the scale, make approximately $75,000 a year. In comparison,l construction estimators in the top 10% of the scale make about $130,000 and above yearly.
While that's a really nice range, working in a low paying state or city would not get you to the top 10% any time soon. On the other hand, some of the highest paying US Cities have estimators making way above the scale. Meaning of course, it’s all about location.
One thing that makes a lot of professions attractive to potential workers is the availability of bonuses. Beyond the salary being paid, is there a chance for bonuses to beef up their current earnings?
Construction estimators, like many other professions, have various bonus entitlements depending on your employer, the value you offer, and how well you execute the project. In a poll taken by Niche SSP, amongst 1,440 preconstruction professionals, more than half of them noted that their bonuses were up to 10% of their base pay. It is important to note that bonuses for those in the preconstruction industry are calculated using their base pay, but they are not considered a part of those salaries themselves.
When you examine this pay distribution across experience levels, it is easy to ask if construction estimators are satisfied with the salary range in the industry and the opportunities for an increase. In another poll conducted by Niche SSP construction estimators were asked “Is a construction estimator salary rewarding enough?” , it was found that a large percentage of construction workers are unsatisfied with their current pay and feel undervalued. This does not mean they do not enjoy their work; rather, as much as they enjoy their employment, they feel like the pay they get does not reflect the effort they put into their work. However, if estimators are open to the idea of relocation, better opportunities await them.
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As long as there are construction and renovation projects across the country, there will always be a need for estimators. Is that surprising? While that might seem like a blanket statement, the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2018 projected a 9% growth in the industry before 2028. This is a sign that the industry is expanding, and there will always be room for work for a construction estimator who is passionate and career driven.
As discussed earlier, your location dramatically affects your salary as a cost estimator. This variance in salary is a result of varying factors within each state. While some states have a higher salary range than others, others have more work opportunities. One such State/City that balances both pay, and opportunities pretty well is Texas/Austin. If you have been considering switching cities, then you might be thinking how much does a constructionconstruction estimator make in Austin, Texas.
A junior construction estimator in Austin earns a base pay of $75,000 to $80,000 yearly. Senior estimators, however, make a base pay above $100,000. The fact that the average pay range for a Construction Estimator is quite broad suggests that there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location, and years of experience in the field. According to recent construction estimator job postings, much work is available in Texas.
Estimation construction is an essential part of the pre-construction process. If you intend to practice as a construction estimator, you can rest assured that job opportunities are available for you. There is no hard and fast rule to increasing your salary or bonuses but being willing to work for the best-paying GCs in the best-paying locations seems to be the most promising way.
Understandably, salaries are not the only determinant for switching over or staying in certain employment. However, the majority of people would agree that salaries play a significant role in influencing that decision.
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