How to Become a Construction Cost Estimator in Arkansas: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas cost estimators earn a median annual wage of $61,470 ($29.55/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,400 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -21.9% below the national median of $78,740 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,470 ($29.55/hr)
25th percentile: $45,850 per year
75th percentile: $88,760 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $110,040 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,480 per year
Workers employed in Arkansas: 1,400
Versus national median: -21.9% below the U.S. median of $78,740
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.75 - this occupation is less concentrated in Arkansas than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median construction cost estimator salary in Arkansas is $61,470 per year - 22% below the national median of $78,740 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in construction management, building science, or business.

How to Become a Construction Cost Estimator in Arkansas

1. Build trade experience

Estimators who have installed the work price it better - this is your existing advantage.

2. Earn a bachelor’s degree

Construction management, building science, or business; online programs fit around field work.

3. Learn the software

On-Screen Takeoff, Bluebeam, and cost databases (RSMeans) are the working toolkit.

4. Start as a junior estimator

General contractors and specialty subs hire from the field into estimating desks.

5. Advance

Senior estimator, chief estimator, or preconstruction manager.

Requirements in Arkansas

The education path is national - Bachelor’s in construction management, building science, or business. There is no occupational license for cost estimators in most states, including Arkansas. ASPE/AACE certifications valued. Confirm employer or role-specific certifications before you enroll, as details change.

Construction Cost Estimator Salary in Arkansas

Wage level	Annual salary
Arkansas entry level (10th percentile)	$38,480
Arkansas 25th-75th percentile	$45,850 - $88,760
Arkansas median	$61,470
Arkansas top earners (90th percentile)	$110,040
U.S. median	$78,740

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 1,400.

The Arkansas Job Market: Construction Cost Estimator

Metric	Value
Employed in Arkansas	1,400
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	1.08
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	0.75
Mean annual wage in Arkansas	$69,300

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.75, Arkansas employs cost estimators at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile, United States - Cost Estimators

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Cost Estimators annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$48,530
25th	$61,150
50th (median)	$78,740
75th	$101,850
90th	$130,820

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, United States, Cost Estimators, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Cost Estimators employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	221,400
2034 projected	212,100
Percent change	-4.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a construction cost estimator make in Arkansas?

The median annual wage for cost estimators in Arkansas is $61,470 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 22% below the national median of $78,740.

How to become a construction cost estimator in Arkansas?

The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in construction management, building science, or business. There is no occupational license for cost estimators in most states, including Arkansas. ASPE/AACE certifications valued. Confirm employer or role-specific certifications. See the steps on this page.

How many cost estimators work in Arkansas?

BLS counts about 1,400 cost estimators employed in Arkansas (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Construction Cost Estimator in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Cost Estimators (SOC 13-1051), Arkansas and national
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)