Cost Estimators pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $107,390 or more. The middle half of cost estimators in Columbia earn between $55,310 and $82,570.
- $47K10th
- $55K25th
- $66KMedian
- $83K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,950 | $6,079 | $35.07 |
| Median | $65,850 | $5,488 | $31.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,310 | $4,609 | $26.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,570 | $6,881 | $39.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cost Estimators pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Cost estimators in Columbia earn 5% less than the South Carolina average ($77,050) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($85,390). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $78,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $72,950 | $65,850 | $47,070 | $107,390 | 490 |
| South Carolina | $77,050 | $70,260 | $46,970 | $119,590 | 2,880 |
| United States | $85,390 | $78,740 | $48,530 | $130,820 | 224,220 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cost Estimators salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $72,950, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $57,629 a year, or $4,802 a month and $2,217 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 (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for cost estimators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $72,950 buys what about $77,886 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Cost Estimators salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 6th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Hilton Head Island pays the most ($81,580).
- Hilton Head Island$81,580
- Charleston$81,100
- Spartanburg$77,740
- Greenville$75,820
- Myrtle Beach$73,270
- Columbia$72,950
- Florence$68,980
- Sumter$68,100
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 Columbia: questions
How much do cost estimators make an hour in Columbia?
$35.07 an hour on average, and $31.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cost estimators salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cost estimators take-home pay in Columbia?
About $57,629 a year ($4,802 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,950.
Do cost estimators earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($85,390).
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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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