What You'll Do

  • Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
  • 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.
  • Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
  • Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
  • Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
  • 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.
  • Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors.
  • Set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0/5
Mathematics 4.0/5
Speaking 3.88/5
Active Listening 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.62/5
Writing 3.5/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.38/5
Active Learning 3.25/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.12/5
Coordination 3.12/5
Management of Financial Resources 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Integrity, Cautiousness, Perseverance

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Inductive Reasoning 4.12/5
Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Mathematical Reasoning 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 3.88/5
Number Facility 3.88/5
Written Expression 3.75/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Apple AppleWorks Assured Software JPP Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk Revit Choice Job Cost Computer aided design and drafting CADD software ConEst BidTrac ConEst Electrical Formulas ConEst Intellibid ConEst IntelliBid Design Build ConEst JobTrac ConEst Permit Trac ConEst SureCount ConEst T&M Billing Manager ConstructConnect PlanSwift Construction Management Software ProEst Corel QuattroPro Cost accounting software Cost estimating software

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.85/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.73/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.45/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.37/5)
  • Perseverance (High importance: 4.22/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Acquisition Cost Estimator Analyst Building Construction Estimator Building Estimator Civil Estimator Commercial Construction Estimator Commercial Estimator Commercial Roofing Estimator Concrete Estimator Construction Estimator Construction Job Cost Estimator Cost Analyst Cost Consultant Cost Engineer Cost Estimating Analyst Cost Estimator Cost Recovery Technician (Cost Recovery Tech) Crating and Moving Estimator Drywall Estimator Electrical Estimator Estimating Specialist Estimator Flooring Estimator Heavy Civil Estimator Industrial Estimator Investment Recovery Technician (Investment Recovery Tech) Job Cost Estimator Job Estimator Mechanical Estimator Print Estimator Production Cost Estimator Project Estimator Quantity Surveyor Sales Estimator Service Advisor Service Writer Structural Steel Estimator

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.