Manufacturing cost estimators: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Manufacturing cost estimators calculate the costs of developing, producing, or redesigning a companys goods or services. For example, a cost estimator working for a home appliance manufacturer may determine a new dishwashers production costs, allowing managers to make production decisions.

Other workers, such as operations research analysts and construction managers, may also estimate costs in the course of their usual duties.

Education Required
Employers generally prefer candidates who have a bachelors degree.
Training Required
Most cost estimators receive on-the-job training, which may include instruction in cost estimation techniques and software, as well as industry-specific software, such as building information modeling (BIM) and computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Job Outlook
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 11% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)
Median pay: How much do Cost Estimators make?
$61,790 Annual Salary
$29.71 per hour

Careers for Cost Estimators

  • Building construction estimators
  • Building estimators
  • Construction cost estimators
  • Construction estimators
  • Construction job cost estimators
  • Cost consultants
  • Cost engineers
  • Cost/investment recovery technicians
  • Crating and moving estimators
  • Design consultants
  • Electrical estimators
  • Estimator project managers
  • Estimators
  • Job estimators
  • Procurement technicians
  • Production cost estimators
  • Project control specialists
  • Project managers

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