Description
Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.
Interests
- Conventional
- Enterprising
Work Values
- Independence
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Analytical Thinking
- Dependability
- Cooperation
Tasks
- Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
- Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
- Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
- Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
- Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Working with Computers
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Detailed Work Activities
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Technology Skills
- Project management software
- Word processing software
- Financial analysis software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Accounting software
Abilities
- Inductive Reasoning
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Number Facility
Skills
- Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Mathematics
- Economics and Accounting
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- Building and Construction
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Certified Healthcare ConstructorCertifying Organization
American Hospital Association
Type
Core
Certificate name
Independent Certified Gemologist AppraiserCertifying Organization
American Gem Society
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Value Methodology PractitionerCertifying Organization
Society of American Value Engineers
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Cost Estimator/AnalystCertifying Organization
International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Gemologist AppraiserCertifying Organization
American Gem Society
Type
Advanced
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $55,524 |
| Median (50%) | $76,584 |
| High (90%) | $103,846 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $64,693 |
| Mid Level | $79,236 |
| Senior Level | $85,278 |
| Expert Level | $117,846 |
Employability
There are currently 227,900 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to decrease to 219,600 positions, reflecting a projected decline of -4%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of -4%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
Career Resources
Search All Careers
Compare Careers
Income Outlook
Career Pathways
Career Clusters
Job Suite Home
CV Templates
Resume Templates
Cover Letter Templates
All Templates
Job Resources
Blog Articles
Podcast