Construction estimators have one of the most critical roles in the entire preconstruction and building process: determining project costs. Staying on budget is a key success metric of any project and it all starts with the work of cost estimators.
Are you looking to build a solid foundation for your career in construction estimation or take your current expertise to the next level? We'll take you through the ins and outs of the profession, from uncovering what a construction estimator does and how to land the job, to exploring the top skills you need to stay at the cutting edge.
What we cover:
Cost estimators in construction collect and analyze data in order to determine the time, money, materials, and labor required to manufacture a product, construct a building, or provide a service. Companies bidding on large projects typically have a team of multiple estimators.
Cost accuracy is an expected core competency for this job. Their ability to forecast expected costs contributes to their firm’s ability to win a job in the bidding process.
Construction cost estimators may be contractually hired in several different ways: they may be employed by the owner’s representative/project manager, employed by the construction manager, employed as a member of a professional design team, or separately hired by the owner.
According to ZipRecruiter, as of June 2024, the average salary of a cost estimator in the US is $80,002 per year. The pay ranges from as low as $35,500 for entry-level to as high as $135,000 for experienced cost estimators. This range is based on the level of skill, education, location, and years of experience.
To be a construction cost estimator, you will typically need a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quantity Survey, Construction Management, or any other related building science. Some employers may, however, want someone with a background in finance, economics, or business. In rarer cases, some workers with several years of experience in construction may qualify without a bachelor’s degree.
It takes an average of a combined eight years of education and experience to become a licensed cost estimator.
Construction estimating is a field that is rapidly evolving with new processes and technology. Today’s and future estimators need to stay on the top of their game by investing in the latest learning and development opportunities. Here are a list of resources, classes, and books for estimators to advance their careers:
Course: Estimating Academy
This course is from the American Society of Professional Estimators, a recognized authority in education, certification, and standardization for estimating professionals. Most courses follow an eight week schedule, but some are fully on-demand. Featuring subject matter expert facilitators, the Estimating Academy also continuously adds new courses and offerings for its members to advance their careers.
Course: Fundamentals of Construction Cost Estimating
This is a self-paced training course from RSMeans. The eight lessons focus on the fundamentals of construction cost estimating and the profession. With real-life examples, you’ll get hands-on skill building on topics like bid documents, quantity takeoff, and pricing.
Class: Construction Estimating Master Class
In Autodesk’s Construction Estimating Master Class, learn how to accelerate your estimating and takeoff workflows. After five short videos, you’ll walk away with key knowledge to produce more competitive and accurate bids.
Book: Nail Your Numbers: A Path to Skilled Construction Estimating and Bidding
This book by David Gerstel is an industry best seller and updated in 2021. The book covers the essential procedures and skills that estimators need to make an informed and accurate bid and estimate.
Books: Unit Price Books
As a leading cost database, RSMeans provides a robust library of unit price books for building estimating. Pulled together by cost researchers, these books offer a wide range of tactical pricing information including city cost indexes, productivity rates, profit rates, and overheads.
Typically a construction estimator job description includes responsibilities such as estimating building costs through all the stages of design and construction. On large projects, estimators typically specialize in disciplines that parallel design discipline specialization. Furthermore, it is essential to have the cost estimator involved at the onset of every project to ensure that the project budget reflects the decisions made by the rest of the project team throughout the integrated design process.
When it comes to project costs, there is nothing like “one size fits all.” Every project is unique regarding size, materials, cost, functions, and project deadlines. This, therefore, makes an estimator’s role crucial in any project.
The estimator’s role includes but is not limited to the following:
Whether you’re a subcontractor, a general contractor, owner, or professional design team member, the services of a commercial cost estimator can be a game-changer for anyone managing a commercial or industrial construction project. Due to the financial impact of cost overruns and failing to complete a project, both builders and clients are prone to worry about the outcome of the construction project at hand.
Therefore, it’s always wise in business to invest time and careful research to estimate the costs of a commercial construction project before moving ahead with any project. More specifically, clients who are considering large projects will often seek several cost estimates, including those prepared by contractors – as well as those calculated by independent cost estimators.
There are different types of cost estimators depending on a project’s size. Estimators may hold different positions throughout various construction projects.
Primarily, we classify cost estimators according to their employers. The different types of cost estimators are as discussed below:
The client’s cost estimator makes investment decisions at the conceptual stage of a project. They negotiate and finalize a contract then implement cost control measures.
The contractor’s cost estimator has a detailed task of determining approximate project costs needed for bidding. They also have a database of company data that shows records of the company’s equipment and labor. This cost estimator also knows the best construction methods for the company. The contractor’s cost estimator also must know the material suppliers needed in a project and the likely discount prices.
The engineer’s cost estimator, in most cases, works as the client’s cost estimator. His purpose is to determine approximate costs and present them to the client. The engineer’s cost estimator also evaluates alternative construction methods that will be budget-friendly for the project.
The role of an estimator has evolved. New skills for analyzing data with the latest technologies will make estimating more predictable, more sustainable, and more accurate. The data generated in the estimating process is the beginning and should feed the entire project life cycle.
According to Juan Sanchez, Preconstruction Team at DPR, this means an explosion of new 3D workflows and environments. "Estimators are now expected to also live outside of the numbers and within the design. With general contractors incorporating more design management into our workflows, estimators are now empowered to leverage design tools to perform job tasks."
This means more team-wide collaboration at the start of a project. "Estimators are now incorporating BIM design managers into the workflow to leverage design model data in a way that can be used for quantification at a fraction of the time of traditional 2D takeoff. Furthermore, the ability to visualize the project in a 3D environment allows estimators to gain a better understanding of the scope and ability to relay this information to trade partners and team members," Juan adds.
At the helm of these advancements is new software transforming traditional workflows. Juan continues, "Additionally, new estimating software is available that allows estimators to produce conceptual estimates using historical data and basic project parameters for use from establishing target costs through buyout. These tools have been great contributions in enabling estimators to explain costs, options, sequencing, and general understanding of the project. It is a great time to be an estimator!"
With the estimating process evolving in construction, these are the core skills estimators will need to have to stay successful today and tomorrow.
Math is a fundamental skill today’s estimators need. Estimating, by nature, requires a lot of work with numbers. If working with numbers and doing complex calculations are anathema to someone, professional estimating probably isn’t a good career prospect for them.
All those numbers and calculations must be kept in order, which means having stellar organizational skills. The numbers can fly fast and furiously and change in the blink of an eye, so keeping track of them all is a necessary skill for an estimator.
You have to know what you’re looking at. All those numbers and data that you’ll be looking at will need to be evaluated and interpreted within the context of making a competitive and accurate bid.
Cost estimating software can help estimators be more proficient, achieving the required balance of speed and accuracy.
Knowing strengths and weaknesses throughout the estimating process can mean the difference between winning a lucrative contract and losing it to a competitor. Experience and access to time-saving and error-reducing tools will greatly improve one's ability to identify ways to build things at the minimum cost.
Attention to detail is essential to ensure cost estimators achieve accurate results. They need to identify cost drivers quickly and ensure that when one cost changes, they know how it will affect other costs related to the project.
According to Juan, "Estimators need to have the ability to validate the constructability of project scope and provide supplementary input to ensure project costs capture design intent and client needs. When estimators are able to clearly identify what is not shown within design documents, but absolutely necessary for construction, that estimator not only increases their value to the project team, but also establishes a level of trust with the client by providing them reliable cost data, enabling clients to make crucial decisions early in the project life cycle. This not only helps the contractor maintain milestone deliverables, but is a crucial factor in developing predictable results."
Giving an engaging presentation will help estimators support and defend their reasoning, if necessary, and convey alternative and more cost-effective options.
Juan adds, "A vast majority of our process involves presenting our analysis in front of clients. Estimators also need to continuously develop our communication skillset to not only effectively relay cost impacts, but also to explain solutions that show our understanding of the design and program intent."
Having the requisite knowledge about the construction industry will help estimators improve their accuracy. This knowledge includes processes, materials, and how the various construction-related industries are changing. Moderately advanced computer skills will also enable them to develop more elaborate equations and manipulate the data for better estimates.
Deadlines are a part of almost every job and paramount to the fast-paced world of estimating. Estimators need to be able to plan their time wisely. The right construction estimating software can help with time management.
Written communication to present complex details clearly and succinctly is another essential part of estimators’ jobs, and having this basic skill will help a lot.
Anyone looking to become an estimator should have some combination of these essential skills. While they will all be developed over time, using the right construction estimate software will significantly help.
Estimators' jobs are evolving. If you want to be on the leading edge of estimation, it’s time you level up your game. Check out our guide: 4 Habits of Highly-Effective Estimators.
