Competing contractors will bid on proposed construction jobs whenever they become available. A cost estimator who accurately estimates the total cost of construction is required for the contractor to know how much to bid. The job entails physically visiting the construction site and gathering relevant information in order to compile a final cost estimate. This could be a stressful job; if the cost estimate is incorrect, the company could lose a bid or lose money. If you want to work as a cost estimator, you’ll need a college diploma and specialized training in the field.
It’s never too early to start academic preparation for a career as a cost estimator in high school. For example, shop courses such as plan reader training, mechanical drawing, or drafting should be included in high school education. Courses like business math and business management are also useful to take because math and business are intertwined in cost estimation.
If you want to work as a cost estimator, you’ll probably need a bachelor’s degree in construction, architecture, building science, or engineering. These majors focus on the types of topics that a cost estimator should be familiar with. You’ll learn the steps to creating an estimate as well as what factors to consider. For example, you’ll learn about the cost of building materials, the cost of electrical wiring a building, water accessibility, surface topography, getting plumbing services, drainage, insurance, building equipment, taxes, overhead, and the cost of hiring construction workers to figure out how much to estimate for the cost of building a building.
Getting a summer job or at least observing at a construction site during college can be beneficial. This type of summer experience will allow you to gain a practical understanding of what goes into building a structure. As a result, when you finish your education, you will not only have an academic understanding of cost estimation, but also a practical understanding based on your own experience. You’ll learn to account for uncontrollable factors like shipping delays, bad weather, and other occurrences in your cost estimates.
Keep in mind that, because cost estimation requires a lot of math calculations, you’ll need to learn how to use computers if you want to work as a cost estimator. For example, if you want to analyze data and figure out how much a construction project will cost per unit, you’ll need to use a computer. Furthermore, cost estimation will necessitate the use of spreadsheets and other business software, such as bid information modeling (BIM) software, which starts with blueprints and then creates three-dimensional models to allow for more accurate building process estimation. As a result, if you want to work as a cost estimator, you must have excellent computer skills.
During your final semester of college, you will most likely apply for a job. Your school’s career services department can assist you in finding work. Granted, you might be able to find work if you contact the construction firm where you worked during the summer, especially if that firm is hiring entry-level cost estimators.
You will also be eligible for certification through the Society of Cost Estimation and Analysis after gaining work experience, passing an exam, and publishing an article about cost estimating (SCEA). Certification may enable you to work as a project manager for a construction company, a government building consultant, or even an engineering manager in some cases. Alternatively, you could start your own company as a cost estimator for construction projects.