Job Role Description

Accounting > Estimator

Salary National Average

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57120.0000 73600.0000 94470.0000

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Candidate Supply: 8,250 Job Openings: 5,865

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Short Description:

Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining the price of products or services. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.

Duties / Responsibilities:

  • Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
  • Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
  • Prepare estimates used by management for planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
  • Analyze blueprints and documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
  • Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.

Skills / Requirements / Qualifications

  • Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.  
  • Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.  
  • Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.  
  • Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.  
  • Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Job Zones

  • Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Related Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
  • Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
  • Job Zone Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
  • Specific Vocational Preparation in years: 2-4 years preparation (7.0 to < 8.0)

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