Cost Estimators vs Medical Assistants: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Cost Estimators professionals earn $32,870 more per year than Medical Assistants professionals — that's 74.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Cost Estimators earns $128,640 compared to $57,830 for Medical Assistants.
Salary Range Comparison
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
Medical Assistants$35,020 – $57,830
$35,020$128,640
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Cost Estimators | Medical Assistants | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,330 | $35,020 | +$11,310 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,830 | $37,610 | +$22,220 |
| Median (50th) | $77,070 | $44,200 | +$32,870 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,630 | $48,160 | +$51,470 |
| 90th Percentile | $128,640 | $57,830 | +$70,810 |
| Mean (Average) | $83,160 | $44,720 | +$38,440 |
Employment Numbers
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
Medical Assistants
793,460
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 Medical Assistants
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,570 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $59,910 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $58,850 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $52,040 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Cost Estimators or Medical Assistants?
Cost Estimators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $32,870 (74.4% 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 Medical Assistants?
Medical Assistants salaries range from $35,020 (10th percentile) to $57,830 (90th percentile), with a median of $44,200.
How many Cost Estimators and Medical Assistants jobs are there?
There are approximately 219,530 Cost Estimators positions and 793,460 Medical Assistants positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Medical Assistants to Cost Estimators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Cost Estimators has a median salary of $77,070 while Medical Assistants earns $44,200. 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