Also called: Estimator
Figures out how much a building will cost by counting materials, labor, and time.
You open digital plans and measure every wall, door, and outlet, then price them with supplier quotes. By bid day you are on the phone collecting last-minute prices from subcontractors.
BLS May 2024 median about $77k.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in construction management or engineering is common; some come up from the trades.
Ways in: 4-year college, 2-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Building Science.
Shrinking (about -1% over 10 years). BLS projects a slight decline as software speeds estimating.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI takeoff and pricing tools do much of the counting, so fewer junior estimators; risk judgment and sub relationships stay human.
Classes: Algebra II, Construction CTE, Excel or computer applications.
Official data: O*NET occupation 13-1051.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.