Cost Estimator salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Cost Estimators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $77,990 a year ($37.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,690 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $78,740. Pay here is 4% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $74,730. There are 1.7 cost estimators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $80,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cost estimators in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| 25th percentile | $59,270 | $28.49 |
| Median | $77,990 | $37.50 |
| 75th percentile | $98,450 | $47.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,690 | $61.39 |
| Average (mean) | $80,880 | $38.88 |
Half of cost estimators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,499.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,249.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,999.62 |
| Weekly | $1,499.81 |
| Hourly | $37.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $77,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cost Estimator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $80,850 | 1,440 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $80,800 | 360 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $79,230 | 1,420 |
| Asheville, NC | $75,000 | 330 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $73,410 | 600 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $73,130 | 540 |
| Wilmington, NC | $72,900 | 370 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $72,840 | 150 |
| Burlington, NC | $72,330 | 90 |
| Greenville, NC | $72,050 | 140 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $71,220 | 540 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $70,810 | 60 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $70,510 | 110 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $70,360 | 70 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $70,260 | 130 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $69,490 | 200 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $69,210 | 550 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $68,890 | 180 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $68,550 | 340 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $67,530 | 90 |
| Columbia, SC | $65,850 | 490 |
| Sumter, SC | $63,450 | 50 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $62,950 | 200 |
| Florence, SC | $61,520 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for cost estimators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $100,840 |
| Alaska | $97,020 |
| Wyoming | $90,790 |
| Colorado | $86,940 |
| Washington | $86,070 |
| California | $85,460 |
| Illinois | $82,750 |
| District of Columbia | $82,730 |
| Nevada | $82,200 |
| Rhode Island | $81,990 |
See Cost Estimator pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management Specialist | $105,200 | $50.58 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $82,020 | $39.43 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $82,930 | $39.87 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $78,330 | $37.66 |
| Management Analyst | $102,920 | $49.48 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $68,480 | $32.92 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,890 | $37.45 |
| Compliance Officer | $86,720 | $41.69 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,680 | $37.83 |
| Logistician | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $76,960 | $37.00 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $59,420 | $28.57 |
| Fundraiser | $63,920 | $30.73 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $98,890 | $47.54 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for cost estimators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $77,990 a year, or $37.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cost estimators make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of cost estimators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $127,690 a year. The top 25% earn $98,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for cost estimators in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,520 a year, and a quarter of cost estimators earn $59,270 or less.
How many cost estimators work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 2,360 cost estimators are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.