• Are you a planner?

  • Do you pay attention to details?

  • Are you interested in construction?

  • Do you like working with numbers?

Jimmy Fallon enthusiastically saying yes!

If you answered yes, then a career as an estimator might be the right path for you!

Are you wondering what an estimator does?

The first step in a construction project is to create a plan to figure out how much it will cost. An estimator's job is to create the plan. The plan is called an estimate.

What is included in the estimate?

  • All materials required to complete the project.

  • Labor: the workers and supervisors needed.

  • The time it will take to complete the project.

  • The total cost of the materials, labor, and time for the project.

Quiz

How will the estimator decide what materials to include? Select all that apply:

What does a typical day look like for an estimator?

As an estimator, your job will look different depending on the type of company you work for. person working at a computer creating graphs and charts

Most estimators can expect to:

  • Use measurements and blueprints to decide how much material is needed.

  • Ask questions of coworkers or clients to figure out what the final project should be like.

  • Visit worksites to gather information about the project.

  • Use computer programs to write the estimate or build diagrams of the work that needs to be done.

  • Negotiate with other companies to get the best price for materials and labor.

What type of education would I need?

A college degree will give you the skills for success as an estimator.

Consider the following majors:

  • Mathematics

  • Construction science

  • Business

  • Finance

  • Engineering

A man talking on the phone says,

Another option is to work in the construction or manufacturing industries. This will also help you gain hands-on experience and understand how to complete a project so that you can write a complete estimate without missing any details!

Quiz

Now that you've learned more about what an estimator does, what skills do you think would be important for estimators?

What can I expect to earn?

An estimator can make from $52,000 - $131,000 in the United States. The average salary is around $83,000 USD.

The average expected salary is about $70,000 in Canada, with a range from $53,000 - $98,000 CAD.

What affects your salary?

  • How much experience you have

  • The certifications you've earned

  • The industry you work in

A happy man counting money.

Take Action

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Take these steps to help you prepare for a career as an estimator.

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