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 Lead Estimator in California is $99,892 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $48.
However, a Lead Estimator'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
AI-Powered HR
Lead Estimator Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $107,693 | $8,974 | $2,071 | $52 |
| Average | $99,892 | $8,324 | $1,921 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $86,564 | $7,214 | $1,665 | $42 |
Consolidated Contracting - San Clemente, CA
SERVCO BUILDERS - Irvine, CA
ENGICON CM - Los Angeles, CA
Orlando Spring Corporation - Huntington Beach, CA
A Lead Estimator'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 Lead Estimator'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Cost Esti... Level Lead Estimator | $159,688 |
| Cost Esti... Level Lead Estimator | $188,470 |
| Lead Esti... Level Lead Estimator | $99,318 |
| Cost Esti... Level Lead Estimator | $139,906 |
| Cost Esti... Level Lead Estimator | $159,301 |
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 Lead Estimators. 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:
For Lead Estimator 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, Lead Estimator positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Estimator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | $119,870 | $58.0 | 20% |
| Software & Networking | $117,872 | $57.0 | 18% |
| Biotechnology | $114,875 | $55.0 | 15% |
| Financial Services | $111,879 | $54.0 | 12% |
| Energy & Utilities | $109,881 | $53.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Lead Estimator'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 | $107,693 | $8,974 | $2,071 | $52 |
| Average | $99,892 | $8,324 | $1,921 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $86,564 | $7,214 | $1,665 | $42 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lead Estimator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Rachel Contracting
SAINT MICHAEL, MN
Rachel Contracting | SAINT MICHAEL, MN
Position Title: Estimator/Project Manager - Civil Renewable Energy Location: St Michael, MN Salary Interval: Salary Pay_Range: $80,000.00 - $130,000.00 App... more
16 Days Ago
A.F.P. Corporation
OMAHA, NE
Drexel Building Supply
CAMPBELLSPORT, WI
Drexel Building Supply | CAMPBELLSPORT, WI
Description: The Drexel Way: *THIS IS NOT A REMOTE ROLE. ALL WORK WILL BE COMPLETED ON SITE/IN OFFICE IN CAMPBELLSPORT, WISCONSIN* We don’t just sell lumbe... more
5 Days Ago
Coastal Tide Construction
RUBONIA, FL
Coastal Tide Construction | RUBONIA, FL
Coastal Tide Construction is looking for an experienced Estimator / Purchaser to join our team. We are a custom home contractor specializing in high-end re... more
5 Days Ago
Heaney General Contracting, Inc.
YPSILANTI, MI
Heaney General Contracting, Inc. | YPSILANTI, MI
We are seeking an experienced Commercial (General Contracting) Construction Estimator to prepare accurate and competitive cost estimates for commercial con... more
5 Days Ago
Capital Disaster Solutions
HOUSTON, TX
Capital Disaster Solutions | HOUSTON, TX
Capital Disaster Solutions is seeking a highly skilled Project Director / Xactimate Estimator to lead project costing, oversee mitigation and reconstructio... more
5 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:
