Compensation and Benefits Managers vs Cost Estimators: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Cost Estimators professionals earn $77,070 more per year than Compensation and Benefits Managers professionals.
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Compensation and Benefits Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $181,910 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $176,740 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | $152,790 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | $151,050 |
| Columbus, OH | $143,020 |
Best Cities for Cost Estimators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $104,190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $103,030 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,990 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $86,540 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $86,300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Compensation and Benefits Managers or Cost Estimators?
Cost Estimators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $77,070 (null% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Compensation and Benefits Managers?
Salary data for Compensation and Benefits Managers is not currently available.
What is the salary range for Cost Estimators?
Cost Estimators salaries range from $46,330 (10th percentile) to $128,640 (90th percentile), with a median of $77,070.
How many Compensation and Benefits Managers and Cost Estimators jobs are there?
There are approximately N/A Compensation and Benefits Managers positions and 219,530 Cost Estimators positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Cost Estimators to Compensation and Benefits Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Compensation and Benefits Managers has a median salary of $0 while Cost Estimators earns $77,070. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS