Carpenters 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 $17,760 more per year than Carpenters professionals — that's 29.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Carpenters earns $98,370 compared to $128,640 for Cost Estimators.
Salary Range Comparison
Carpenters$38,760 – $98,370
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
$38,760$128,640
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Carpenters | Cost Estimators | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $38,760 | $46,330 | $-7,570 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,550 | $59,830 | $-12,280 |
| Median (50th) | $59,310 | $77,070 | $-17,760 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,620 | $99,630 | $-24,010 |
| 90th Percentile | $98,370 | $128,640 | $-30,270 |
| Mean (Average) | $64,040 | $83,160 | $-19,120 |
Employment Numbers
Carpenters
697,740
employed nationwide
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Carpenters
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $80,950 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $78,090 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77,100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $76,760 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $76,510 |
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: Carpenters or Cost Estimators?
Cost Estimators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $17,760 (29.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Carpenters?
Carpenters salaries range from $38,760 (10th percentile) to $98,370 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,310.
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 Carpenters and Cost Estimators jobs are there?
There are approximately 697,740 Carpenters positions and 219,530 Cost Estimators positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Cost Estimators to Carpenters?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Carpenters has a median salary of $59,310 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