Cost Estimators

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Business & Financial
• O*NET-SOC code: 13-1051
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
• Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
• Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
• Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
• Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
• Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
• Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.
• Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
• Set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures.
• Review material and labor requirements to decide whether it is more cost-effective to produce or purchase components.
• Prepare cost and expenditure statements and other necessary documentation at regular intervals for the duration of the project.
• Conduct special studies to develop and establish standard hour and related cost data or to reduce cost.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, ConstructConnect PlanSwift, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Logistics Engineers
• Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Construction Managers
• Industrial Engineers
• Architectural and Engineering Managers
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
• Architectural and Civil Drafters
• Civil Engineers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Cost Estimators — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.