Occupations/13-1051.00
Cost Estimators
Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.
Usually a four-year bachelor’s degree.
AI automation risk
78%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
22%
Fewer uniquely human demands
Task orientation
45%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
- Mostly human
Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.
- Task
Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
The tasks we can read here lean on people, judgment, or hands-on work. The AI risk number is still this job’s rank against other occupations.
Core tasks
- 01Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
- 02Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
- 03Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
- 04Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
- 05Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
- 06Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.10
- Degree of automation2.14
- Time sitting4.59
- Originality (ability)2.88
- Conflict situations2.45
- Hands-on objects/tools1.32
- Outdoors / weather1.52
- Disease exposure1.10
- Decision freedom3.91
Top abilities
- Inductive Reasoning4.12
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Mathematical Reasoning4.00
- Written Comprehension3.88
- Number Facility3.88
- Written Expression3.75
- Near Vision3.75
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension4.00
- Active Listening3.75
- Writing3.50
- Speaking3.88
- Mathematics4.00
- Science1.38
- Critical Thinking3.75
- Active Learning3.25
- Learning Strategies2.88
- Monitoring3.00
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 92 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emory University Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit | Business/Commerce, General 52.0101 | $60,800 | 11% | 91% | 1 yr $134,003 2 yr $135,250 Master's · CIP 52.01 |
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $19,600 | 55% | 86% | 1 yr $122,038 2 yr — Doctoral · CIP 14.18 |
Stanford University Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $62,400 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $92,632 2 yr — Master's · CIP 14.18 |
Georgia State University Atlanta, GA · Public | Business/Commerce, General 52.0101 | $9,200 | 67% | 56% | 1 yr $87,604 2 yr $92,358 Master's · CIP 52.01 |
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | Mechanical Engineering 14.1901 | $13,800 | 9% | 92% | 1 yr $76,146 2 yr $75,518 Bachelor's · CIP 14.19 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC · Public | Business Administration and Management, General 52.0201 | $9,000 | 17% | 91% | 1 yr $76,041 2 yr $73,823 Bachelor's · CIP 52.02 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $17,700 | 18% | 93% | 1 yr $74,747 2 yr $71,575 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $4,600 | 100% | 27% | 1 yr $73,635 2 yr $63,005 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $5,200 | 100% | 21% | 1 yr $72,796 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $14,800 | 11% | 93% | 1 yr $71,015 2 yr $68,219 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $12,800 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $70,596 2 yr $71,015 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA · Public | Materials Engineering 14.1801 | $11,800 | 17% | 91% | 1 yr $70,009 2 yr $65,387 Bachelor's · CIP 14.18 |