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Cost Estimating Supervisor Salary in the United States

How much does a Cost Estimating Supervisor make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cost Estimating Supervisor in the United States is $88,135 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,160
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,703 to $94,953
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,384
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Cost Estimating Supervisor Salaries

A Cost Estimating Supervisor'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.

How Experience Level Affects Cost Estimating Supervisor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cost Estimating Supervisor'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 Estimation Analyst IV (7+ years): $141,719
  • Cost Estimation Analyst V (7-10 years): $167,273
  • Cost Estimating Supervisor (10+ years): $88,135
  • Cost Estimating Senior Supervisor (10+ years): $124,164
  • Cost Estimating Manager (10+ years): $141,381
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Cost Estimation Analyst IV7+ years$141,719
Cost Estimation Analyst V7-10 years$167,273
Cost Estimating Supervisor10+ years$88,135
Cost Estimating Senior Supervisor10+ years$124,164
Cost Estimating Manager10+ years$141,381
View as Graph

How Do Cost Estimating Supervisor Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Estimating Supervisors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $97,583.
  • California: $97,213.
  • Massachusetts: $95,917.

Top Paying Cities for Cost Estimating Supervisors

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: $111,165
  • San Francisco: $109,948
  • Oakland: $107,630

What Skills Can Increase a Cost Estimating Supervisor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 6.08% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Plumbing (Mentioned in 2.02% Job Postings): Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. The word derives from the Latin for lead, plumbum, as the first effective pipes used in the Roman era were lead pipes. In the developed world, plumbing infrastructure is critical to public health and sanitation. Boilermakers and pipefitters are not plumbers although they work with piping as part of their trade and their work can include some plumbing.
  • Data Analysis (Mentioned in 1.05% Job Postings): Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names, and is used in different business, science, and social science domains. In today's business world, data analysis plays a role in making decisions more scientific and helping businesses operate more effectively. Data mining is a particular data analysis technique that focuses on modeling and knowledge discovery for predictive rather than purely descriptive purposes, while business intelligence covers data analysis that relies heavily on aggregation, focusing mainly on business information. In statistical applications, data analysis can be divided into descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and confirmatory data analysis (CDA). EDA focuses on discovering new features in the data while CDA focuses on confirming or falsifying existing hypotheses. Predictive analytics focuses on application of statistical models for predictive forecasting or classification, while text analytics applies statistical, linguistic, and structural techniques to extract and classify information from textual sources, a species of unstructured data. All of the above are varieties of data analysis.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 6.08%
Plumbing 2.02%
Data Analysis 1.05%
See More Skills

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 Estimating Supervisor's salary.

  • RFI: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Budgeting: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Procurement: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
RFI $96,067
9%
Budgeting $95,186
8%
Procurement $95,186
8%
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Cost Estimating Supervisor Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Cost Estimating Supervisor salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $98,495. While startup companies pay approximate $83,316.

Cost Estimating Supervisor Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $83,316
Growth Stage 51~500 $88,115
Established 501~5000 $95,109
Enterprise 5000+ $98,495

Cost Estimating Supervisor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Cost Estimating Supervisor roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 63% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Cost Estimating Supervisor positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cost Estimating Supervisor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Cost Estimating Supervisor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$105,762$51.020%
Software & Networking$103,999$50.018%
Biotechnology$101,355$49.015%
Financial Services$98,711$47.012%
Energy & Utilities$96,949$47.010%

Cost Estimating Supervisor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cost Estimating Supervisor'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 September 01, 2026
$75,703
Average $88,135/year
$94,953
$6,309
Average $7,345/month
$7,913
$1,456
Average $1,695/week
$1,826
$36
Average $42/hour
$46
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $94,953 $7,913 $1,826 $46
Average $88,135 $7,345 $1,695 $42
25th Percentile $75,703 $6,309 $1,456 $36

Cost Estimating Supervisor Salary Growth & Career Path

Cost Estimating Supervisor

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Advancement

For a Cost Estimating Supervisor, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Cost Estimating Senior Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $124,164 - a projected growth of 41% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Cost Estimating Supervisor

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Cost Estimating Supervisor

Here are companies hiring for Cost Estimating Supervisor and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Cost Estimating Supervisor

1. Where can a Cost Estimating Supervisor earn the most?

A Cost Estimating Supervisor's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Cost Estimating Supervisor earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Cost Estimating Supervisor is $111,165.

2. What is the highest pay for Cost Estimating Supervisor?

The highest pay for Cost Estimating Supervisor is $101,160.

3. What is the lowest pay for Cost Estimating Supervisor?

The lowest pay for Cost Estimating Supervisor is $64,384.

4. What are the responsibilities of Cost Estimating Supervisor?

Develops cost estimates for projects based on work scope, specifications, and contract proposals using applicable estimating methodologies and tools. Analyzes project requirements, plans, and specifications to identify labor, material, equipment, and service requirements. Uses benchmark data, trends, prior estimates, and historical pricing schedules to generate detailed cost estimates that consist of itemized lists of expenses, labor hours, material quantities, and potential cost variations. Depending on the complexity and type of project, may use different estimating methods, mathematical models, or specialized estimating software tools to generate estimates. Provides guidance and training on estimating best practices. May require a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a manager. Supervises a small group of para-professional staff in an organization characterized by highly transactional or repetitive processes. Contributes to the development of processes and procedures. Typically requires 3 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. Thorough knowledge of functional area under supervision.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Cost Estimating Supervisor?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Cost Estimating Supervisor roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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