Cost Estimators vs Financial Examiners: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Examiners professionals earn $13,330 more per year than Cost Estimators professionals — that's 17.3% higher. At the 90th percentile, Cost Estimators earns $128,640 compared to $171,540 for Financial Examiners.
Salary Range Comparison
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
Financial Examiners$53,420 – $171,540
$46,330$171,540
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Cost Estimators | Financial Examiners | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,330 | $53,420 | $-7,090 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,830 | $66,800 | $-6,970 |
| Median (50th) | $77,070 | $90,400 | $-13,330 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,630 | $127,210 | $-27,580 |
| 90th Percentile | $128,640 | $171,540 | $-42,900 |
| Mean (Average) | $83,160 | $103,650 | $-20,490 |
Employment Numbers
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
Financial Examiners
62,830
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 Examiners
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $139,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $132,190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $131,670 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $111,780 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,450 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Cost Estimators or Financial Examiners?
Financial Examiners professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $13,330 (17.3% 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 Examiners?
Financial Examiners salaries range from $53,420 (10th percentile) to $171,540 (90th percentile), with a median of $90,400.
How many Cost Estimators and Financial Examiners jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,530 Cost Estimators positions and 62,830 Financial Examiners positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Examiners to Cost Estimators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Cost Estimators has a median salary of $77,070 while Financial Examiners earns $90,400. 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