This post contains affiliate links.
If you are a civil engineer or involved in construction, you have probably heard of estimators. This post will break down the responsibility of an estimator, what they do, and how much they make?
Estimators find the cost of materials, labour and equipment needed to complete a construction project. Estimators are in charge of defining a price and scope of work for their company services to increase sales and drive profit.
Essentially, estimators bring work opportunities to their company by promoting their company services through pricing for jobs, establishing relationships with potential clients, and negotiating.
The following is a full breakdown of the estimator role.
What is the role of an estimator?
The estimator’s role is in the initial stage of the project. When a new project is happening, the client or the superintended nominated by the client tries to engage construction and structural companies to execute the project. This is when the estimators provide a cost offer for their company’s services.
The estimator of those companies tries to come up with an effective solution that can potentially save the client time and money but still manages to bring profit to their company.
Pricing for work can be a very long process; ultimately, the estimator’s goal is to secure future work. To learn more, read: How Estimators Tender Price For Jobs?
What are the duties of an estimator?
We can summarise the duties of the estimators into three main core duties:
- Provide a cost study of a new potential project by coming up with a solution and accurately providing a cost for each required item.
- Provide a schedule for work by forecasting how long a project will take. Read: How To Manage Project Schedules.
- Communicating and negotiating with clients to promote the company’s products and services.
An estimator will be successful at their jobs if they bring constant work to their company while keeping the profit margin reasonably high. If you are new to construction, read How Construction Companies Make Money? to understand how estimators fit in the big picture.
What is the estimator’s salary?
On average, estimators make around $60,000 in the US. Entry-level salary is usually around $45,000, senior-level estimators make around $100,000, while highest-paid estimators can make up to $130,000.
It takes 4 years of university education in civil engineering or construction management and at least 1-2 years of work in the industry to become an estimator. To learn more about estimators’ career paths, read: How To Become An Estimator?
Are estimators in demand?
There is a high demand for estimators in any construction contractor and civil engineering company. Every company need a team of estimators that can secure work for that company. Without estimators, companies can not promote their services, establish relationships with other construction companies and bring profit.
FQA
Is estimating a stressful job?
Estimators sometimes work under pressure, especially close to the tender deadline. Estimators’ time is considered an overhead and not booked against any project; therefore, the only way an estimator can be useful is when they can secure work for the company. This means estimators work on many tenders simultaneously, which can be overwhelming.
However, stress and working under pressure are very common in the construction industry. For example, project managers are quite busy and usually work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Is estimating a good career?
Estimators are in charge of the business development unit in their organisation. This means that the estimator job is quite critical in securing future jobs and keeping everyone employed. Therefore, being an estimator is a fulfilling career.
Is an estimator a salesman?
Estimators are not salesmen; however, sales skills are required to be a successful estimator, such as communicating effectively, negotiating with the client, having a keen eye for details and know-how to close the deal by accommodating all of the client’s needs.
Is an estimator an engineer?
There are estimating engineers who are in charge of providing accurate costs for engineering companies. However, not all estimators are engineers, but many come from a civil engineering background. Regardless some construction companies do not require estimators with a background in engineering as long as they have enough experience in the industry.
Do you have to be good at maths to be an estimator?
If you are going to work as an estimator, you will need to be good at math, at least doing some simple calculations. Your math skills do not need to be advanced for common estimating work in construction. However, if you are an estimating engineer, you might need some advanced math, especially if you need to use that knowledge when pricing for jobs. Read: Can I Be an Engineer If I’m Bad At Math?
