Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cost Engineer and Estimator III in California is $117,900 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $57.
However, a Cost Engineer and Estimator III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
Cost Engineer and Estimator III Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $130,800 | $10,900 | $2,515 | $63 |
| Average | $117,900 | $9,825 | $2,267 | $57 |
| 25th Percentile | $106,600 | $8,883 | $2,050 | $51 |
ABBA Roller - Ontario, CA
Pacific Pros - Los Angeles, CA
Marriott - LAFAYETTE SQUARE, LA
Marriott - ATLANTA, GA
A Cost Engineer and Estimator III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Cost Engineer and Estimator III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Engineer and Estimator I | 0-2 years | $81,603 |
| Cost Engineer and Estimator II | 2-4 years | $104,679 |
| Cost Engineer and Estimator III | 4-7 years | $117,867 |
| Cost Engineer and Estimator IV | 7+ years | $156,296 |
| Cost Engineer and Estimator V | 7-10 years | $184,467 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Cost Engineer and Estimator IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Cost Engineer and Estimator III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $131,982. While startup companies pay approximate $111,654.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $111,654 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $118,087 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $127,452 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $131,982 |
For Cost Engineer and Estimator III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Cost Engineer and Estimator positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cost Engineer and Estimator III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace & Defense | $129,690 | $62.0 | 10% |
| Biotechnology | $129,690 | $62.0 | 10% |
| Business Services | $129,690 | $62.0 | 10% |
| Chemicals | $129,690 | $62.0 | 10% |
| Construction | $129,690 | $62.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Cost Engineer and Estimator III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $130,800 | $10,900 | $2,515 | $63 |
| Average | $117,900 | $9,825 | $2,267 | $57 |
| 25th Percentile | $106,600 | $8,883 | $2,050 | $51 |
For a Cost Engineer and Estimator III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Cost Engineer and Estimator IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $156,300 - a projected growth of 33% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Cost Engineer and Estimator III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Waste Management
EAST FARMS, WA
Waste Management | EAST FARMS, WA
Waste Management, Inc., a leader in environmental solutions, is seeking a highly skilled Engineer III to join our Engineering & Maintenance department. At ... more
8 Days Ago
Waste Management
PORTLAND, OR
Waste Management | PORTLAND, OR
Waste Management, Inc., a leader in environmental solutions, is seeking a highly skilled Engineer III to join our Engineering & Maintenance department. At ... more
16 Days Ago
Waste Management
MILLWOOD, WA
Waste Management | MILLWOOD, WA
Waste Management, Inc., a leader in environmental solutions, is seeking a highly skilled Engineer III to join our Engineering & Maintenance department. At ... more
16 Days Ago
Waste Management
SCHILLER PARK, IL
Waste Management | SCHILLER PARK, IL
Waste Management, Inc., a leader in environmental solutions, is seeking a highly skilled Engineer III to join our Engineering & Maintenance department. At ... more
16 Days Ago
Waste Management
ARLINGTON, OR
Waste Management | ARLINGTON, OR
As a key member of the Engineering & Maintenance department at Waste Management, Inc., the Engineer III is tasked with designing, developing, and implement... more
20 Days Ago
Waste Management
SPOKANE, WA
Waste Management | SPOKANE, WA
Waste Management, Inc., a leader in environmental solutions, is seeking a highly skilled Engineer III to join our Engineering & Maintenance department. At ... more
20 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
