How to Become a Construction Cost Estimator in Tennessee: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median construction cost estimator salary in Tennessee is $75,650 per year - 4% 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.
Construction Cost Estimator Salary in Tennessee
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee entry level (10th percentile) | $42,440 |
| Tennessee 25th-75th percentile | $60,460 - $98,070 |
| Tennessee median | $75,650 |
| Tennessee top earners (90th percentile) | $120,990 |
| U.S. median | $78,740 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 4,340.
The Tennessee Job Market: Construction Cost Estimator
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Tennessee | 4,340 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 1.32 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.92 |
| Mean annual wage in Tennessee | $79,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.92, Tennessee’s demand for cost estimators tracks close to the national average.
Requirements in Tennessee
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in construction management, building science, or business - while licensing runs through Tennessee’s own boards: No license; ASPE/AACE certifications valued. Verify current requirements with the Tennessee licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Construction Cost Estimator.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,530 |
| 25th | $61,150 |
| 50th (median) | $78,740 |
| 75th | $101,850 |
| 90th | $130,820 |
Job Outlook
| 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 Tennessee?
The median annual wage for cost estimators in Tennessee is $75,650 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 4% below the national median of $78,740.
How do I become a construction cost estimator in Tennessee?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in construction management, building science, or business - with licensing administered at the state level: No license; ASPE/AACE certifications valued. See the steps below.
How many cost estimators work in Tennessee?
BLS counts about 4,340 cost estimators employed in Tennessee (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Construction Cost Estimator in Nearby States
- Construction Cost Estimator in South Carolina
- Construction Cost Estimator in South Dakota
- Construction Cost Estimator in Texas
- Construction Cost Estimator in Utah
Related
- How to Become a Construction Cost Estimator (national guide)
- All Trade Careers That Require a 4-Year Degree
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Cost Estimators (SOC 13-1051), Tennessee 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) |