It goes without saying that construction estimators are the pillars of the construction industry as they do everything to make a successful bid. From developing project plans to aligning costs with the client’s budget, a construction estimator shoulders crucial responsibilities. Basically, their job role is to help clients get a clear picture of the estimated project costs required to complete the construction project.
Since the demand for apartments, buildings, or houses keeps surging, the construction industry will continue offering lucrative job opportunities. Therefore, stepping up as a construction estimator can be beneficial. A construction estimator job not only helps you make money for yourself but also provides career growth as the construction industry continues booming.
Ready? Let’s find out how to become a construction estimator and how much a construction estimator makes.
What is a Construction Estimator?
An individual responsible for analyzing material costs, labor costs, and equipment costs to identify an estimated project cost is known as a construction estimator. Basically, they are the ones who prepare a bid considering the project timeline, overall cost, and profit margin.
A construction estimator must possess strong analytical skills and a comprehensive knowledge of the construction process. They are the ones who make a project document outlining project plans and the scope of the work. As experts in predicting project expenses, they help ensure that the project estimate stays within the client’s budget.
How to Become a Construction Estimator?
Estimating jobs is way easier than many other construction jobs. If you’re good at doing quick math, it would be easier to become a construction estimator. Here’s a detailed explanation of how to become a construction estimator.
1. Get a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree is the least you need when planning to become an estimator. So, you should have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, construction management, or quantity surveying before applying for a cost estimator’s job. Some construction companies may not ask for a bachelor’s degree and might hire you as a construction estimator based on your experience. But, you may find it difficult to secure more profitable job opportunities as you advance in your career unless you have a bachelor’s degree.
Since the role of the construction estimator is to calculate and foresee the estimated project cost, it requires a bachelor’s degree along with hands-on experience. So, before stepping into the shoes of a construction estimator, make sure you have gained a bachelor’s degree and experience in handling your responsibilities.
Hence, it is advisable to start working as a part-time junior estimator as soon as you get a bachelor’s degree. It will help you become more familiar with an estimation process while honing your mathematical skills.
2. Get a Job as a Cost Estimator
With a bachelor’s degree and experience as a part-timer, your next step is to apply for a full-time job. So, at this stage, you need to prepare a resume before applying for a construction estimator on online platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn. While you are letting the world know you are open to working as a cost estimator, make sure you are fully aware of the roles and responsibilities that will be assigned to you in the future.
Upon gaining experience in your relevant field, your demand will increase, as most construction companies look for experienced estimators. In case you find it difficult to acquire a full-time job as a construction estimator, then consider an entry-level job in any construction company.
Getting an internship offer can also be helpful in your career path to becoming a successful construction estimator. Plus, you can establish connections with industry experts to gain a deeper understanding of cost estimation and project bidding processes.
3. Obtain Necessary Certificates
Once you have both education and experience, consider getting certified as a construction estimating professional. Below are some certifications that can help shape your career as an estimator and boost your chances of securing a job with a reputable construction company.
- Construction Trainee Certification
- Certified Professional Estimator
- Construction Manager Certification
- Project Management Professional
- Collision Repair Certification
- Refinishing Technician Certification
As soon as you obtain a relevant certificate, you should learn to present yourself in front of potential clients. You can use your analytical skills to answer client’s queries in a professional way. Also, learn to adjust the project cost according to the client’s budget without affecting the company’s profit margin.
Estimate Your Construction Work Accurately
Calculate the sum of material and labor costs automatically using readymade templates on Moon Invoice and get rid of minor errors.
What are the Roles & Responsibilities of a Construction Estimator?
A construction estimator figures out how much the cost of a construction project is. You need to define a scope of work that includes planning, specifications, and the sequence in which the project should be executed. As an estimator, you are also responsible for creating a quantity takeoff, which must be included in the scope documents to complete the building’s construction. If anything is missing from the scope of work, you will need to revise the materials list from scratch, or the project may not be completed successfully. This is why you should never prepare a construction estimate in haste, especially if you’re new to the industry.
Other than that, you also need to pay a site visit before you start preparing an estimate. It will not only give you an idea of quantity takeoff but also help you find the right equipment required to get the job done. If the construction site is far from your office, you must also account for the cost of transporting materials to the location.
Required Skills for Construction Estimators
Here are some must-have skills required to become a construction estimator and efficiently complete your daily estimation tasks.
1. Analytical & Technical Abilities
Becoming a construction estimator means you should have robust analytical and technical abilities to navigate project complexities and foresee the construction project cost.
2. Communication Skills
The job of an estimator involves frequent interactions with contractors and clients to explain the project scope. Therefore, having communication skills is a must in this profession.
3. Mathematical Skills
The estimation process itself requires frequent calculations of material, cost, and other project expenses. So, you will often require mathematical skills in this role.
4. Expertise in Project Management
No matter how good you are at solving math problems, you can’t fill the shoes of an estimator without well-developed project management skills.
How Does Moon Invoice Help in Construction Estimation?
Moon Invoice, a state-of-the-art invoicing platform offers ready-made construction estimate templates to create error-free estimates in a professional way. Designed for construction estimators, Moon Invoice eliminates the extra workload to calculate project costs manually.
It comprises more than 60 estimate templates to make sure you place a successful bid. It helps you represent an estimate in such a way that it would be easier to understand the project details for your prospective clients. You can create and send beautiful construction estimates on the go and secure a profitable job in minutes.
Features that are loved by estimators like you.
- Estimate generator
- Invoice generator
- Receipt maker
- Readymade templates
- Sales Reports
- Expense Tracker
- WhatsApp & Email Share
- 15+ payment integration
- Real-time cloud sync
Make an Estimate That Needs No Revisions
Don’t let estimation errors hamper your hard-earned reputation. Use Moon Invoice and generate an impressive estimate to make a successful bid.
Conclusion
Stepping into the construction industry, you will be rewarded with lots of lucrative job opportunities. It’s only a matter of time before you develop the necessary skills to become a construction estimator and start making money. Construction companies always go after experienced and skillful estimators. So, once you develop the required skills, it’s important to continuously improve them to stand out from others.
Apart from your skills, you can position yourself more competitively with the right tools and software. With rapid technological advancements, you can take benefit of automation software like Moon Invoice to level up your estimation process. Sign up to try Moon Invoice free for 7 days.
FAQs
Jayanti Katariya is the founder & CEO of Moon Invoice, with over a decade of experience in developing SaaS products and the fintech industry. He holds a degree in engineering. Since 2011, Jayanti's expertise has helped thousands of businesses, from small startups to large enterprises, streamline invoicing, estimation, and accounting operations. His vision is to deliver top-tier financial solutions globally, ensuring efficient financial management for all business owners.
