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Current BLS California employee wages for Cost Estimators, SOC 13-1051; construction estimating is a subset of this cross-industry occupation, and employee wages exclude premium pay and benefits.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Salary Guides / California
Compare California estimator employee wages with bid responsibility, construction sector, working hours and the written terms of your employment offer.
California cost estimators earn $24.88–$72.50/hr across the displayed wage range, or $51,750–$150,790 a year. These state figures cover industries beyond construction. For a construction estimating offer, connect the range to your responsibility for quantities, subcontractor comparisons and final bid review. Employee wages exclude premium pay and benefits. Discuss those parts of compensation separately when comparing the full offer. Include expected bid deadlines and site attendance in that conversation.
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
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$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
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An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
These national sector figures give context for California construction offers. Ask which bid packages, review duties and project types belong to the advertised vacancy.
Road and bridge estimates combine quantities, equipment and construction sequencing. For California public works, discuss responsibility for pricing covered labor correctly. Ask who reviews quantities and who approves allowances for changing site conditions.
Building bids bring multiple subcontractor packages together. Ask how a California contractor divides takeoff, quote comparison and final review across its team. Compare the proposed workload with the number of bids you must support concurrently.
Mechanical and electrical packages require detailed equipment and installation allowances. Discuss how local supplier quotes and trade experience inform your estimating assignment. Ask whether you own one trade package or coordinate several installation scopes across each submission.
Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$1.98 | $4,118 | $159 | 3 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.66 | $1,373 | $59 | 3 weeks |
| PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) | +$1.52 | $3,162 | $300 | 5 weeks |
| CSLB Contractor License (Class B) - General Building | +$1.58 | $3,286 | $719 | 12 weeks |
| ASPE Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) | +$0.79 | $1,643 | $790 | 25 weeks |
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $41.09/hr.
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
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