Cost Estimators vs Financial Risk Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Risk Specialists professionals earn $28,930 more per year than Cost Estimators professionals — that's 37.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Cost Estimators earns $128,640 compared to $182,310 for Financial Risk Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
Financial Risk Specialists$62,270 – $182,310
$46,330$182,310
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Cost Estimators | Financial Risk Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,330 | $62,270 | $-15,940 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,830 | $80,280 | $-20,450 |
| Median (50th) | $77,070 | $106,000 | $-28,930 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,630 | $145,020 | $-45,390 |
| 90th Percentile | $128,640 | $182,310 | $-53,670 |
| Mean (Average) | $83,160 | $119,930 | $-36,770 |
Employment Numbers
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
Financial Risk Specialists
56,320
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 Risk Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $141,960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $140,050 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $137,420 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $130,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $128,440 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Cost Estimators or Financial Risk Specialists?
Financial Risk Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $28,930 (37.5% 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 Risk Specialists?
Financial Risk Specialists salaries range from $62,270 (10th percentile) to $182,310 (90th percentile), with a median of $106,000.
How many Cost Estimators and Financial Risk Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,530 Cost Estimators positions and 56,320 Financial Risk Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Risk Specialists to Cost Estimators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Cost Estimators has a median salary of $77,070 while Financial Risk Specialists earns $106,000. 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