Cost Estimators vs Lawyers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Lawyers professionals earn $74,090 more per year than Cost Estimators professionals — that's 96.1% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
Lawyers$72,780 – N/A
$46,330$128,640
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Cost Estimators | Lawyers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,330 | $72,780 | $-26,450 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,830 | $99,760 | $-39,930 |
| Median (50th) | $77,070 | $151,160 | $-74,090 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,630 | $215,420 | $-115,790 |
| 90th Percentile | $128,640 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $83,160 | $182,760 | $-99,600 |
Employment Numbers
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
Lawyers
747,750
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 Lawyers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $215,090 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $205,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $203,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $194,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $191,880 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Cost Estimators or Lawyers?
Lawyers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $74,090 (96.1% 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 Lawyers?
Lawyers salaries range from $72,780 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $151,160.
How many Cost Estimators and Lawyers jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,530 Cost Estimators positions and 747,750 Lawyers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Lawyers to Cost Estimators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Cost Estimators has a median salary of $77,070 while Lawyers earns $151,160. 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