Cost Estimators pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,400 or more. The middle half of cost estimators in Raleigh earn between $60,220 and $100,780.
- $38K10th
- $60K25th
- $79KMedian
- $101K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,030 | $6,919 | $39.92 |
| Median | $79,230 | $6,602 | $38.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,220 | $5,018 | $28.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,780 | $8,398 | $48.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Cost Estimators salary after taxes in Raleigh
On the average salary of $83,030, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $64,437 a year, or $5,370 a month and $2,478 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for cost estimators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $83,030 buys what about $84,589 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cost Estimators salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 2nd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($84,610).
- Durham$84,610
- Raleigh$83,030
- Charlotte$80,880
- Rocky Mount$80,180
- Greenville$80,110
- Asheville$77,990
- Greensboro$76,570
- Goldsboro$75,820
- Wilmington$75,090
- Burlington$74,600
Highest-paying cities for cost estimators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($109,520).
- San Francisco, CA$109,520
- San Jose, CA$108,990
- Boston, MA$108,390
- Amherst, MA$102,520
- Santa Rosa, CA$101,290
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Cost Estimators salary in Raleigh: questions
How much do cost estimators make an hour in Raleigh?
$39.92 an hour on average, and $38.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cost estimators salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cost estimators take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $64,437 a year ($5,370 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,030.
Do cost estimators earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($86,152).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-1051; area Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.32, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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