Cost Estimators vs General and Operations Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn $25,880 more per year than Cost Estimators professionals — that's 33.6% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
General and Operations Managers$47,420 – N/A
$46,330$128,640
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Cost Estimators | General and Operations Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,330 | $47,420 | $-1,090 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,830 | $67,160 | $-7,330 |
| Median (50th) | $77,070 | $102,950 | $-25,880 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,630 | $164,130 | $-64,500 |
| 90th Percentile | $128,640 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $83,160 | $133,120 | $-49,960 |
Employment Numbers
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
General and Operations Managers
3,584,420
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 General and Operations Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $162,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $152,090 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $151,420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $149,260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $141,280 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Cost Estimators or General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $25,880 (33.6% 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 General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers salaries range from $47,420 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,950.
How many Cost Estimators and General and Operations Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,530 Cost Estimators positions and 3,584,420 General and Operations Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from General and Operations Managers to Cost Estimators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Cost Estimators has a median salary of $77,070 while General and Operations Managers earns $102,950. 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