Estimation Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Estimation Engineer make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Estimation Engineer in the United States is $74,306 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $87,705
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,177 to $81,320
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,596
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View as table View as graph 25% $68,177 10% $62,596 90% $87,705 75% $81,320 $74,306 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Estimation Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $81,320 $6,777 $1,564 $39
Average $74,306 $6,192 $1,429 $36
25th Percentile $68,177 $5,681 $1,311 $33
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Key Factors That Influence Estimation Engineer Salaries

An Estimation Engineer'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 Estimation Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Estimation Engineer'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): $73,790
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $94,623
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,560
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $141,274
  • Expert (over 8 years): $166,695
Levels Salary
Estimatio... Level Estimation Engineer$73,790
Cost Esti... Level Estimation Engineer$94,623
Cost Esti... Level Estimation Engineer$106,560
Cost Esti... Level Estimation Engineer$141,274
Cost Esti... Level Estimation Engineer$166,695
$73,790 0 yr
$94,623 < 2 yrs
$106,560 2-4 yrs
$141,274 5-8 yrs
$166,695 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Estimation Engineer 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 Estimation Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $82,271.
  • California: $81,959.
  • Massachusetts: $80,867.

Top Paying Cities for Estimation Engineers

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: $93,722
  • San Francisco: $92,801
  • Oakland: $90,742

What Skills Can Increase an Estimation Engineer'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 an Estimation Engineer'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
$79,507
7%
Data Analysis
$78,021
5%
Value Engineering
$78,021
5%
Leadership
$77,278
4%
Commitment
$77,278
4%
Scheduling
$76,535
3%
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Estimation Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Estimation Engineer'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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Estimation Engineer

Salaries for an Estimation Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $70,304 in 2023 to around $69,320 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Estimation Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Estimation Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$70,304
2024
$69,531
2025
$69,320
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $70,304
2024 $69,531
2025 $69,320
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Estimation Engineer

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

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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.)

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