Cost Estimator salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 99 certified H-1B filings in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Hayward, Concord, Oakland, Richmond, Alameda.
Also listed as: Cost Manager
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $88,104 |
| 25th | $97,600 |
| 50th (median) | $123,200 |
| 75th | $147,000 |
| 90th | $166,836 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $100,200 | $76,625 | $128,450 | 46 |
| FY2021 | $97,268 | $77,314 | $121,074 | 40 |
| FY2022 | $107,400 | $95,000 | $126,442 | 54 |
| FY2023 | $105,000 | $89,000 | $136,144 | 39 |
| FY2024 | $125,000 | $108,014 | $135,000 | 45 |
| FY2025 | $124,100 | $97,651 | $134,292 | 48 |
| FY2026 | $121,900 | $99,600 | $156,200 | 51 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median Cost Estimator salary of $123,200 is worth about $106,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Cost Estimators in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $101,630 in May 2025 (3,300 employed). The H-1B median here is $123,200, 21% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Turner & Townsend | $147,000 | 19 |
| Cumming Management Group | too few | 7 |
| Crusoe Energy Systems | too few | 5 |
| J.H. Fitzmaurice | too few | 5 |
| Sena Info Technologies | too few | 4 |
| WSP | too few | 3 |
| Bay City Mechanical | too few | 3 |
| Kwan Wo Ironworks | too few | 3 |
| Mace North America | too few | 3 |
| Saarman Construction | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $80,000 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $101,400 | 28 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,950 | 28 |
| Expert · Level IV | $154,500 | 29 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $67,371 | $80,000 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $89,502 | $101,400 | 28 |
| Senior · Level III | $111,654 | $120,950 | 28 |
| Expert · Level IV | $133,786 | $154,500 | 29 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.