Cost Engineering Salary in Columbus, TX

How much does a Cost Engineering make in Columbus, TX?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cost Engineering in Columbus, TX is $66,091 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $77,184
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,121 to $71,897
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,686
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI Onboarding
View as table View as graph 25% $60,121 10% $54,686 90% $77,184 75% $71,897 $66,091 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Cost Engineering Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $71,897 $5,991 $1,383 $35
Average $66,091 $5,508 $1,271 $32
25th Percentile $60,121 $5,010 $1,156 $29
Check out Cost Engineering Job Openings in Columbus, TX
Assistant Manager

Domino's Pizza - Columbus, TX

Receptionist

H&R Block - Columbus, TX

Production Manager

Quikrete - Columbus, TX

General Plant Laborer

Summit Materials - Columbus, TX

Search More Cost Engineering Jobs in Columbus, TX

Key Factors That Influence Cost Engineering Salaries

A Cost Engineering'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 Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cost Engineering'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $66,505
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $85,319
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,064
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $127,392
  • Expert (over 8 years): $150,362
Levels Salary
Cost Engi... Level Cost Engineering$66,505
Cost Esti... Level Cost Engineering$85,319
Cost Esti... Level Cost Engineering$96,064
Cost Esti... Level Cost Engineering$127,392
Cost Esti... Level Cost Engineering$150,362
$66,505 0 yr
$85,319 < 2 yrs
$96,064 2-4 yrs
$127,392 5-8 yrs
$150,362 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Cost Engineerings

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: $92,179
  • San Francisco: $91,170
  • Oakland: $89,249

What Skills Can Increase a Cost Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 6.42% 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.
  • Value Engineering (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): Value engineering (VE) is a systematic method to improve the "value" of goods or products and services by using an examination of function. Value, as defined, is the ratio of function to cost. Value can therefore be manipulated by either improving the function or reducing the cost. It is a primary tenet of value engineering that basic functions be preserved and not be reduced as a consequence of pursuing value improvements. The term "value management" is sometimes used as a synonym of "value engineering", and both promote the planning and delivery of projects with improved performance The reasoning behind value engineering is as follows: if marketers expect a product to become practically or stylistically obsolete within a specific length of time, they can design it to only last for that specific lifetime. The products could be built with higher-grade components, but with value engineering they are not because this would impose an unnecessary cost on the manufacturer, and to a limited extent also an increased cost on the purchaser. Value engineering will reduce these costs. A company will typically use the least expensive components that satisfy the product's lifetime projections.
  • AutoCAD (Mentioned in 1.25% Job Postings): AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 6.42%
Value Engineering 1.6%
AutoCAD 1.25%
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 Engineering's salary.
  • Budgeting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Data Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Value Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Budgeting
$70,717
7%
Data Analysis
$69,395
5%
Value Engineering
$69,395
5%
Leadership
$68,735
4%
Commitment
$68,735
4%
Scheduling
$68,074
3%
Get Latest Data

Cost Engineering Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Cost Engineering roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Cost Engineering positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cost Engineering as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Cost Engineering

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$79,309$38.020%
Pharmaceuticals$79,309$38.020%
Financial Services$76,005$37.015%
Insurance$76,005$37.015%
Software & Networking$76,005$37.015%

Cost Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cost Engineering'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

Find Your Next Cost Engineering Job

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

United States
  • Cinterra

    Columbus, TX

    Cinterra | Columbus, TX

    The ideal candidate will be responsible for all project direction, planning, completion, and financial outcome. In order to succeed in this position, the c... more

    5 Days Ago

  • MML Alliance

    Columbus, TX

    MML Alliance | Columbus, TX

    Owner-Operator Contract Position. MML Alliance hires experienced Owner-Operators with a box truck to run Over-the-Road (OTR) across 48 states. If you're an... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Cinterra

    Columbus, TX

    Cinterra | Columbus, TX

    Heavy Equipment Operator I (Solar/Elec Division). For over twenty years, Cinterra has provided specialized electrical utility and solar construction servic... more

    6 Days Ago

  • FSC, Inc.

    Columbus, TX

    FSC, Inc. | Columbus, TX

    Job Description:FSC, Inc., a fast-growing land surveying and engineering firm specializing in oil & gas, energy infrastructure, and large-scale commercial ... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Titan Production Equipment LLC

    Columbus, TX

    Titan Production Equipment LLC | Columbus, TX

    Position Summary:Entry-level position that performs work assisting a full performance technician/mechanic/worker in a specific trade.Tasks become more comp... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Big Easy Ranch

    Columbus, TX

    Big Easy Ranch | Columbus, TX

    Overview Energize your career as a Senior Account Manager, where you will lead strategic client relationships and drive business growth through exceptional... more

    7 Days Ago

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 Columbus, TX

Cost of Living in Columbus, TX is
-6.2% Lower
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