Cost Estimator
Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.
Top activities and tasks for this job:
- Interacting With Computers - use spreadsheet software
- Getting Information - read blueprints
- Analyzing Data or Information - analyze financial data
- 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 purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
- Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
- Processing Information - compute financial data
About the test (Full Version)
The HR Avatar Cost Estimator Pre-Employment Assessment was designed to help you hire staff in this role. The test provides a whole-person evaluation by measuring job-relevant cognitive ability, personality, knowledge, skills, and relevant behavioral history.
Each component provides important data for hiring decisions. Cognitive ability has been linked to overall job performance in most jobs and correlates with a candidate's
ability to learn new skills and to solve complex problems. Personality characteristics determine how well the candidate will fit-in with a corporate culture. Knowledge and skills indicate how much training will be needed before a new employee becomes productive. Finally, relevant behavioral history detects counter-productive behaviors that can impact job performance.
The Cost Estimator test includes an animated work simulation in which candidates meet customers, colleagues and supervisors in a job-related context. Post-test surveys indicate the majority of candidates react favorably to these simulations.
The specific attributes measured include:
Cognitive Ability
- Analytical Thinking and Attention to Detail
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Knowledge and Skills
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Personality
- Adaptability
- Drive
- Integrity
- Resilience
- Teamwork
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Emotional Intelligence
- Empathy and Emotional Self-Control
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Behavioral History
- History Survey - Performance
- History Survey - Tenure
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Following completion, the test produces a Candidate Selection Report that includes an overall score and detailed scores for each attribute. The overall score weighs each of the factors based on research and analysis from the U.S. Government's Occupational Information Network (O*Net). O*Net represents over a decade of dedicated research evaluating the relative importance of various factors that lead to success in almost 1,000 different job roles.
The Candidate Selection Report also provides expert interview questions that help you probe critical or low-scoring areas, along with a guide for noting your evaluation of the candidate's responses. Consistent use of an interview guide is an important part of gaining better candidate insights and making better hiring decisions.
More information about this Job
| Annual US Wages (2020) |
| Bottom 10%: | | $40,380 or less |
| Bottom 25%: | | $51,980 or less |
| Median: | | $66,610 (Average) |
| Top 25%: | | $88,460 or more |
| Top 10%: | | $114,360 or more |
| US Employment Statistics |
| 2020: | | 199,400 |
| 2030 (projected): | | 200,600 |
| Annual U.S. Job Openings: | 17,800 |
Top Knowledge Requirements
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Building and Construction
- Computers and Electronics
- Economics and Accounting
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
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Top Skills
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Speaking
- Writing
- Active Learning
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Top Abilities
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Number Facility
- Inductive Reasoning
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
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| Education Requirements |
| High School Diploma: | | 5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate: | | 9% |
| Associate's Degree (2 yr): | | 5% |
| Bachelor's Degree: | | 64% |
| Master's Degree: | | 18% |
| This graphic shows the percentage of people in this role who have their highest education in each category. |
| Related Work Experience Requirements |
| None: | | 18% |
| 6 Months - 1 Year: | | 9% |
| 1 - 2 Years: | | 23% |
| 2 - 4 Years: | | 9% |
| 4 - 6 Years: | | 14% |
| 6 - 8 Years: | | 5% |
| 8 - 10 Years: | | 5% |
| More than 10 Years: | | 18% |
| This graphic shows the percentage of people in this role whose related work experience before they entered this position falls into each category. |
Alternate Titles for this Role: Acquisition Cost Estimator, Building Construction Estimator, Building Estimator, Chief Estimator, Civil Estimator, Construction Estimator, Construction Job Cost Estimator, Contract Analyst, Cost Analyst, Cost Consultant, Cost Engineer, Cost Estimator, Cost Recovery Technician, Crating and Moving Estimator, Electrical Estimator, Estimator, Investment Recovery Technician, Job Cost Estimator, Job Estimator, Mechanical Estimator, Production Cost Estimator, Project Estimator, Quantity Surveyor, Service Advisor
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