Cost Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Cost Manager make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cost Manager in the United States is $129,251 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $143,339
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $116,627 to $136,625
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $105,134
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View as table View as graph 25% $116,627 10% $105,134 90% $143,339 75% $136,625 $129,251 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Cost Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $136,625 $11,385 $2,627 $66
Average $129,251 $10,771 $2,486 $62
25th Percentile $116,627 $9,719 $2,243 $56
Check out Cost Manager Job Openings in the United States
Cost Estimator

Phillips Tube Group, Inc. - Middletown, OH

Manager Procurement Principal Cost Engineer

J&J Family of Companies - Cincinnati, OH

Cost Accounting and Inventory Control Manager

Howmet Aerospace - Niles, OH

Automotive Deal Cost Biller

Germain Honda in Dublin - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Cost Manager Salaries

A Cost Manager'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Cost Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cost Manager'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): $80,248
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $95,240
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $110,260
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $107,898
  • Expert (over 8 years): $128,709
Levels Salary
Cost Acco... Level Cost Manager$80,248
Cost Acco... Level Cost Manager$95,240
Cost Acco... Level Cost Manager$110,260
Cost Acco... Level Cost Manager$107,898
Cost Mana... Level Cost Manager$128,709
$80,248 0 yr
$95,240 < 2 yrs
$110,260 2-4 yrs
$107,898 5-8 yrs
$128,709 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Cost Managers

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: $163,024
  • San Francisco: $161,422
  • Oakland: $157,841

What Skills Can Increase a Cost Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.44% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Construction Management (Mentioned in 2.56% Job Postings): Construction management (CM) is a professional service that uses specialized, project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end. The purpose of CM is to control a project's time / delivery, cost and quality—sometimes referred to as a project management triangle or "triple constraints." CM is compatible with all project delivery systems, including design-bid-build, design-build, CM At-Risk and Public Private Partnerships. Professional construction managers may be reserved for lengthy, large-scale, high budget undertakings (commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, and military infrastructure), called capital projects.
  • Auditing (Mentioned in 1.33% Job Postings): Auditing refers to the independent examination of financial information of any entity whether profit oriented or not. It is a safeguard measure that prevents corruption.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.44%
Construction Management 2.56%
Auditing 1.33%
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 Manager's salary.
  • Taking Ownership: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Construction Estimating: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Service Delivery: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Taking Ownership
 $146,054
13%
Construction Estimating
 $143,469
11%
Service Delivery
 $139,591
8%
Conceptual Design
 $138,299
7%
Team Management
 $137,006
6%
Economics
 $135,714
5%
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How Education impacts a Cost Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Cost Managers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Cost Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $124,301 and $133,058).

Cost Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cost Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.2%
High School 2.2%
Associates 5.4%
Bachelors 53.8%
Masters 37.5%
Doctorate 1.1%
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Cost Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cost Manager'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on April 01, 2026
$116,627
Average $129,251/year
$136,625
$9,719
Average $10,771/month
$11,385
$2,243
Average $2,486/week
$2,627
$56
Average $62/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $136,625 $11,385 $2,627 $66
Average $129,251 $10,771 $2,486 $62
25th Percentile $116,627 $9,719 $2,243 $56

Salaries of jobs related to Cost Manager

Salary Trends for Cost Manager

Salaries for a Cost Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $109,764 in 2023 to around $107,870 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Cost Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Cost Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$109,764
2024
$108,682
2025
$107,870
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $109,764
2024 $108,682
2025 $107,870
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Cost Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Cost Manager

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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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