Cost Estimators vs Financial Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $84,630 more per year than Cost Estimators professionals — that's 109.8% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
$46,330$128,640
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Cost Estimators | Financial Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,330 | $86,490 | $-40,160 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,830 | $118,360 | $-58,530 |
| Median (50th) | $77,070 | $161,700 | $-84,630 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,630 | $214,210 | $-114,580 |
| 90th Percentile | $128,640 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $83,160 | $180,470 | $-97,310 |
Employment Numbers
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
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 |
Best Cities for Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Cost Estimators or Financial Managers?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $84,630 (109.8% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
How many Cost Estimators and Financial Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,530 Cost Estimators positions and 818,620 Financial Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Managers to Cost Estimators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Cost Estimators has a median salary of $77,070 while Financial Managers earns $161,700. 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