Cost Estimator salary in Washington, DC
Based on 54 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Reston, Manassas, Sterling, Rockville, Mclean.
Also listed as: Cost Manager
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $64,890 |
| 25th | $74,901 |
| 50th (median) | $87,659 |
| 75th | $108,451 |
| 90th | $123,553 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $65,000 | $55,858 | $80,130 | 26 |
| FY2021 | $81,620 | $70,000 | $100,066 | 23 |
| FY2022 | $85,000 | $66,162 | $100,000 | 20 |
| FY2023 | $85,000 | $67,600 | $110,000 | 21 |
| FY2024 | $100,000 | $80,000 | $131,247 | 32 |
| FY2025 | $87,318 | $70,866 | $104,763 | 26 |
| FY2026 | $91,686 | $74,975 | $108,838 | 28 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Cost Estimator salary of $87,659 is worth about $80,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Cost Estimators in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $89,330 in May 2025 (3,780 employed). The H-1B median here is $87,659, 2% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bechtel Infrastructure and Power | too few | 4 |
| DPR Construction, A General Partnership | too few | 4 |
| Hrgm | too few | 3 |
| IOS Employment | too few | 3 |
| Turner Construction Company | too few | 3 |
| Atmos Solutions | too few | 2 |
| Color-Ad | too few | 2 |
| Potomac Construction Company | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $64,890 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $80,000 | 17 |
| Senior · Level III | $93,600 | 13 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 | $54,434 | $64,890 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $74,901 | $80,000 | 17 |
| Senior · Level III | $91,686 | $93,600 | 13 |
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.