Occupation
Construction estimator
Construction estimators work out what a job will cost to build, measuring quantities from drawings and pricing labour, materials, plant, and subcontract packages. They assemble tender submissions and flag the assumptions and risks behind a price. Accuracy matters: an estimate that is wrong in either direction loses the bid or loses money on the job.
Also known as: Cost estimator · Tender estimator · Bid estimator · Preconstruction estimator
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Occupation content
Part of Architecture, construction and infrastructure
A visual day in the work
What the work involves
Take off quantities from drawings, models, and specifications for each work package.
Request and compare subcontractor and supplier quotations for the packages being bid.
Build up rates for labour, materials, plant, preliminaries, overheads, and margin.
Identify scope gaps, exclusions, and risk items and write the qualifications into the bid.
Assemble the tender submission and present the price and assumptions for internal approval.
Hand the accepted estimate over to the delivery team and help set the project cost budget.
Entry-route stepper
How people commonly enter
A college diploma in construction estimating, construction engineering technology, or quantity surveying.
A bachelor's degree in quantity surveying, construction management, or civil engineering.
Progression from a trade, purchasing, or site engineering role into a trainee estimating post.
Professional estimating certification from an industry body added to construction experience.
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Certification common, not usually required
Work-context map
Typical work context
- Desk based
- Team based
- Quiet focus
- Hybrid office
- High responsibility
Desk based · Team based · Quiet focus · Hybrid office · High responsibility
Related interests
- Conventional (organizing)
- Investigative (analytical)
- Enterprising (leading)
Conventional (organizing) · Investigative (analytical) · Enterprising (leading)
Related aptitude preparation
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Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Architecture, construction and infrastructure.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
O*NET OnLine. Cost Estimators (13-1051.00)
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UK National Careers Service: Estimator
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Canada Job Bank: Occupation search: construction estimator
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Architecture, construction and infrastructure in Canada, not a figure for Construction estimator. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Architecture, construction and infrastructure family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Architecture, construction and infrastructure: education pathways
Some roles in Architecture, construction and infrastructure may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Architecture, construction and infrastructure: licensing
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