Mid-Level

Concrete Estimator

On concrete-heavy construction work — high-rise structures, parking decks, infrastructure — you price the concrete scope from formwork through placement, finishing, and reinforcement. A specialty estimating role inside the concrete trade.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
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Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
I
R
S
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Concrete Estimators
Employment concentration · ~375 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Concrete Estimator

Most weeks tend to run deep in structural drawings and concrete specs — taking off cubic yards, pricing forming systems, working through rebar schedules, pricing concrete delivery and pump access, fielding sub quotes for finishing crews. You're often the technical interpreter between structural engineering intent and the cost reality of the field.

The harder part is often the constructability questions hiding in the drawings — what looks like a clean section can require complex forming, congested rebar, or restricted pour windows. Variance across employers is wide: at structural concrete contractors the estimator works deep on one scope; at GCs with self-perform concrete it's embedded in broader bid teams.

Folks who do well here often carry field concrete experience and patience for structural detail. ASPE and ACI credentials anchor advancement. The trade-off is the bid-week intensity common across estimating, intensified by the technical depth structural concrete pricing requires.

RelationshipsModerate
IndependenceModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
AchievementModerate
RecognitionModerate
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Concrete Estimators (SOC 13-1051.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Concrete Estimator career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$46K–$129K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
220K
U.S. Employment
-4.2%
10yr Growth
17K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

MathematicsReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingWritingComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningSocial Perceptiveness
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
13-1051.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.