Salaries › Cost Estimator › California
Cost Estimator Salary in California (2026)
$41.09 per hour · take-home ≈ $65,080/year ($5,423/month) for a single filer
California ranks 6th of 51 states for Cost Estimator pay, with a median about 8% above the national average. Of the 26,020 Cost Estimator jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $85,460 a year — though pay ranges from $51,750 for newcomers to $150,790 at the top.
Cost Estimator pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $51,750 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $65,690 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $85,460 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $118,060 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $150,790 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 26,020 Cost Estimator jobs in California (occupation code 13-1051, “Cost Estimators”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Cost Estimator salary of $85,460 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $65,080 — an effective tax rate of 23.8%.
| Gross (median) | $85,460 |
| Federal income tax | −$9,971 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$6,538 |
| California state income tax | −$3,871 |
| Take-home (annual) | $65,080 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $5,423 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cost Estimator make in California?
- The median Cost Estimator salary in California is $85,460 per year ($41.09 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $65,690 and $118,060.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cost Estimator in California?
- On the median salary of $85,460, a single filer in California takes home about $65,080 per year ($5,423 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 23.8%.
- How many Cost Estimator jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 26,020 Cost Estimator jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cost Estimators
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.