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Cost Engineer and Estimator III Salary in Freeman, SD

How much does a Cost Engineer and Estimator III make in Freeman, SD?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cost Engineer and Estimator III in Freeman, SD is $98,300 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, a Cost Engineer and Estimator III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $118,742
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $88,900 to $109,000
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $80,342
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View as table View as graph 25% $88,900 10% $80,342 90% $118,742 75% $109,000 $98,300 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Cost Engineer and Estimator III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $109,000 $9,083 $2,096 $52
Average $98,300 $8,192 $1,890 $47
25th Percentile $88,900 $7,408 $1,710 $43
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Key Factors That Influence Cost Engineer and Estimator III Salaries

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, skills, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Cost Engineer and Estimator Salaries?

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:

  • Cost Engineer and Estimator I (0-2 years): $68,015
  • Cost Engineer and Estimator II (2-4 years): $87,248
  • Cost Engineer and Estimator III (4-7 years): $98,240
  • Cost Engineer and Estimator IV (7+ years): $130,270
  • Cost Engineer and Estimator V (7-10 years): $153,750
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Cost Engineer and Estimator I0-2 years$68,015
Cost Engineer and Estimator II2-4 years$87,248
Cost Engineer and Estimator III4-7 years$98,240
Cost Engineer and Estimator IV7+ years$130,270
Cost Engineer and Estimator V7-10 years$153,750
$68,015 Cost Engi...
$87,248 Cost Engi...
$98,240 Cost Engi...
$130,270 Cost Engi...
$153,750 Cost Engi...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Cost Engineer and Estimator IIIs

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:

  • San Jose: $134,800
  • San Francisco: $133,400
  • Oakland: $130,500

What Skills Can Increase a Cost Engineer and Estimator III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Experimenting (Mentioned in 16.67% Job Postings): a test or investigation, esp one planned to provide evidence for or against a hypothesis: a scientific experiment.
  • New Product Development (Mentioned in 16.67% Job Postings): In business and engineering, new product development (NPD) covers the complete process of bringing a new product to market. A central aspect of NPD is product design, along with various business considerations. New product development is described broadly as the transformation of a market opportunity into a product available for sale. The product can be tangible (something physical which one can touch) or intangible (like a service, experience, or belief), though sometimes services and other processes are distinguished from "products." NPD requires an understanding of customer needs and wants, the competitive environment, and the nature of the market. Cost, time and quality are the main variables that drive customer needs. Aiming at these three variables, innovative companies develop continuous practices and strategies to better satisfy customer requirements and to increase their own market share by a regular development of new products. There are many uncertainties and challenges which companies must face throughout the process. The use of best practices and the elimination of barriers to communication are the main concerns for the management of the NPD .[citation needed]
  • Process Manufacturing (Mentioned in 16.67% Job Postings): Process manufacturing is a branch of manufacturing that is associated with formulas and manufacturing recipes, and can be contrasted with discrete manufacturing, which is concerned with discrete units, bills of materials and the assembly of components. Process manufacturing is common in the food, beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, consumer packaged goods, cannabis, and biotechnology industries. In process manufacturing, the relevant factors are ingredients, not parts; formulas, not bills of materials; and bulk materials rather than individual units. Although there is invariably cross-over between the two branches of manufacturing, the major contents of the finished product and the majority of the resource intensity of the production process generally allow manufacturing systems to be classified as one or the other. For example, a bottle of juice is a discrete item, but juice is process manufactured. The plastic used in injection moulding is process manufactured, but the components it is shaped into are generally discrete, and subject to further assembly.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Experimenting 16.67%
New Product Development 16.67%
Process Manufacturing 16.67%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Cost Engineer and Estimator III's salary.
  • Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Injection Molding: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Development
$111,079
13%
Injection Molding
$105,181
7%
Get Latest Data

Cost Engineer and Estimator III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

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 $110,041. While startup companies pay approximate $93,092.

Cost Engineer and Estimator III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$93,092
Growth Stage51~500$98,456
Established501~5000$106,264
Enterprise5000+$110,041

Cost Engineer and Estimator III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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.

The top paying industries for a Cost Engineer and Estimator III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$108,130$52.010%
Biotechnology$108,130$52.010%
Business Services$108,130$52.010%
Chemicals$108,130$52.010%
Construction$108,130$52.010%

Cost Engineer and Estimator III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Cost Engineer and Estimator III Salary Growth & Career Path

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 $130,300 - a projected growth of 33% over your current level.

Find Your Next Cost Engineer and Estimator III Job

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.

United States
  • Good Samaritan

    Freeman, SD

    Good Samaritan | Freeman, SD

    Careers With Purpose Join our not-for-profit organization that has provided over 100 years of housing and services to seniors with a commitment to quality ... more

    2 Days Ago

  • DoorDash

    Freeman, SD

    DoorDash | Freeman, SD

    DoorDash is hiring Delivery Drivers to power our leading on‑demand logistics platform. As a key part of our Transportation & Logistics team, you’ll use the... more

    2 Days Ago

  • CHS Inc

    Freeman, SD

    CHS Inc | Freeman, SD

    CHS Inc - - Responsibilities: Deliver agronomy products to local customers and handle site operations. Prepare trucks and railcars for loading/unloading. L... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Avera Health

    Freeman, SD

    Avera Health | Freeman, SD

    Registered Nurse (RN) - Long Term Care. Freeman Regional Health Service is looking for individuals to join our growing, team-oriented organization. Positio... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Avera Health

    Freeman, SD

    Avera Health | Freeman, SD

    Cardiac And Pulmonary Rehab Nurse. Freeman Regional Health Service is looking for individuals to join our growing, team-oriented organization. Position Hig... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Knife River

    Freeman, SD

    Knife River | Freeman, SD

    Job Title. This position is responsible for performing maintenance and repairs on various types of diesel/heavy equipment to keep them in safe working cond... more

    3 Days Ago

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