SalaryByCity

Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists vs Cost Estimators: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists

$77,020

Median annual salary

102,370 employed nationally

Cost Estimators

$77,070

Median annual salary

219,530 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Cost Estimators professionals earn $50 more per year than Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists professionals — that's 0.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists earns $128,830 compared to $128,640 for Cost Estimators.

Salary Range Comparison

Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$48,300 – $128,830
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
$46,330$128,830

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileCompensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis SpecialistsCost EstimatorsDifference
10th Percentile$48,300$46,330+$1,970
25th Percentile$59,700$59,830$-130
Median (50th)$77,020$77,070$-50
75th Percentile$99,210$99,630$-420
90th Percentile$128,830$128,640+$190
Mean (Average)$82,920$83,160$-240

Employment Numbers

Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists

102,370

employed nationwide

Cost Estimators

219,530

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$131,680
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$103,640
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$96,460
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$92,180
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$88,920

Best Cities for Cost Estimators

CityMedian
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, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists or Cost Estimators?
Cost Estimators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $50 (0.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists?
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists salaries range from $48,300 (10th percentile) to $128,830 (90th percentile), with a median of $77,020.
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, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists and Cost Estimators jobs are there?
There are approximately 102,370 Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists positions and 219,530 Cost Estimators positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Cost Estimators to Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists has a median salary of $77,020 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