upper level job

Cost Engineer I Salary in Austin, TX

How much does a Cost Engineer I make in Austin, TX?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cost Engineer I in Austin, TX is $70,003 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,644
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,794 to $76,620
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,141
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Recruit with AI
View as table View as graph 25% $63,794 10% $58,141 90% $82,644 75% $76,620 $70,003 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Cost Engineer I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $76,620 $6,385 $1,473 $37
Average $70,003 $5,834 $1,346 $34
25th Percentile $63,794 $5,316 $1,227 $31
Check out Cost Engineer I Job Openings in Austin, TX
Cost Engineer

Clayco - El Paso, TX

Cost Engineer

Tutor Perini - Dallas, TX

Cost Controls Engineer

MMR Group - Abilene, TX

Registered Nurse

Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City - LEES SUMMIT, MO

Search More Cost Engineer I Jobs in Austin, TX

Key Factors That Influence Cost Engineer I Salaries

A Cost Engineer I'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 Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cost Engineer I'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 I (0-2 years): $70,003
  • Cost Engineer II (2-4 years): $85,533
  • Cost Engineer III (4-7 years): $107,532
  • Cost Engineer IV (7+ years): $130,513
  • Cost Engineer V (7-10 years): $153,790
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Cost Engineer I0-2 years$70,003
Cost Engineer II2-4 years$85,533
Cost Engineer III4-7 years$107,532
Cost Engineer IV7+ years$130,513
Cost Engineer V7-10 years$153,790
$70,003 Cost Engi...
$85,533 Cost Engi...
$107,532 Cost Engi...
$130,513 Cost Engi...
$153,790 Cost Engi...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Cost Engineer Is

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: $89,178
  • San Francisco: $88,201
  • Oakland: $86,343

What Skills Can Increase a Cost Engineer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 9.67% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Quotations (Mentioned in 2.95% Job Postings): A quotation is the repetition of a sentence, phrase, or passage from speech or text that someone has said or written. In oral speech, it is the representation of an utterance that is introduced by a quotative marker, such as a verb of saying.
  • Procurement (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Procurement is the process of finding and agreeing to terms, and acquiring goods, services, or works from an external source, often via a tendering or competitive bidding process. Procurement is used to ensure the buyer receives goods, services, or works at the best possible price when aspects such as quality, quantity, time, and location are compared. Corporations and public bodies often define processes intended to promote fair and open competition for their business while minimizing risks such as exposure to fraud and collusion. Almost all purchasing decisions include factors such as delivery and handling, marginal benefit, and price fluctuations. Procurement generally involves making buying decisions under conditions of scarcity. If sound data is available, it is good practice to make use of economic analysis methods such as cost-benefit analysis or cost-utility analysis.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 9.67%
Quotations 2.95%
Procurement 1.32%
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 I's salary.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • RFI: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting
$81,904
17%
Oral Communication
$76,303
9%
RFI
$75,603
8%
Data Analysis
$75,603
8%
Project Control
$74,203
6%
Cost Management
$73,503
5%
Get Latest Data

Cost Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Cost Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $78,298. While startup companies pay approximate $66,217.

Cost Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$66,217
Growth Stage51~500$70,034
Established501~5000$75,612
Enterprise5000+$78,298

Cost Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Cost Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Cost Engineer positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cost Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Cost Engineer I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$84,004$40.020%

Cost Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cost Engineer I'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 July 01, 2026

Cost Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Cost Engineer I, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Cost Engineer I Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
EHR Project Manager $104,795 50%
Manufacturing Project Manager II $86,866 24%
Engineering Program Manager III $110,233 57%
Project Manager II $93,788 34%

Find Your Next Cost Engineer I Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Cost Engineer I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

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.

For Employers

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.

Cost of Living In Austin, TX

Cost of Living in Austin, TX is
11.1% Higher
than the National Average

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 Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst