Cost Estimators pay range in State College
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,750 or more. The middle half of cost estimators in State College earn between $57,970 and $97,370.
- $43K10th
- $58K25th
- $73KMedian
- $97K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,690 | $6,558 | $37.83 |
| Median | $72,880 | $6,073 | $35.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,970 | $4,831 | $27.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,370 | $8,114 | $46.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Cost Estimators salary after taxes in State College
On the average salary of $78,690, a single filer in State College takes home about $61,773 a year, or $5,148 a month and $2,376 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is State College a good place for cost estimators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the State College area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $78,690 buys what about $81,323 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in State College ($49,220). A typical home costs $353,680, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Cost Estimators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
State College ranks 11th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($87,290).
- Philadelphia$87,290
- York$87,020
- Gettysburg$83,880
- Reading$83,400
- Pittsburgh$82,850
- Allentown$82,500
- Harrisburg$82,280
- Lancaster$82,250
- Scranton$80,280
- State College$78,690
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 State College: questions
How much do cost estimators make an hour in State College?
$37.83 an hour on average, and $35.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cost estimators salary in State College?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cost estimators take-home pay in State College?
About $61,773 a year ($5,148 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,690. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do cost estimators earn more in State College than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 State College, PA (44300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.1%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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