How to Become a Construction Estimator

Construction Estimators calculate the estimated costs of a building project. They are essential workers in the construction industry, creating bids and budgets and helping to monitor expenses during construction. There are many paths to becoming a Construction Estimator, including varying combinations of education and work experience, but all these paths share some common steps. Knowing the requirements every Construction Estimator must meet helps interested students plan a route from their current state to their career goal. This article discusses ways to get the necessary knowledge, skills, experience, and tools to qualify for work as a Construction Estimator.

What is a Construction Estimator?

Construction estimation, also called quantity surveying, is a specialized type of cost estimation. Construction Estimators predict, as accurately as possible, what a building project will cost, considering the project's full scope to produce detailed cost breakdowns and summarized estimates. Construction Estimators may produce multiple estimates for the same project, starting with a general conceptual estimate and then generating progressively more detailed estimates as information becomes available.

To perform this work accurately, Construction Estimators must have a detailed understanding of construction work, including:

• Reading building plans;
• Listing the materials, labor, and equipment needed for a project;
• Knowing the prices for these needs;
• Anticipating other possible costs like insurance and fees; and
• Anticipating factors that could alter those costs. 

Some of this knowledge comes from formal studies, some from construction experience, and some from active research. Construction Estimators must be good communicators, able to discuss projects with anyone involved: clients, supervisors, government agencies, tradespersons, subcontractors, vendors, and financial officers. These discussions elicit information and clarify a project’s requirements and limitations so that the Estimator can fully calculate its details. Attention to detail is another crucial skill for a Construction Estimator. The success of their work relies on their ability to spell out every possible aspect of construction projects and correctly anticipate their costs or influence on costs. 

Construction Estimators frequently work for building contractors, creating their bids for proposals or helping them decide what jobs are worth bidding on. Construction Estimators also assist in budgeting for construction projects at building companies, real estate developers, or government agencies like transportation, urban planning, or civil engineering. Some Construction Estimators are direct employees of these industries, often advising an administrator or supervisor or else contributing to a construction planning team. Other Construction Estimators are self-employed, working as freelancers whenever and wherever their services are needed. Freelance Construction Estimators often assist smaller businesses that only need occasional estimation work, but such independent Estimators may also be hired to produce estimates for comparison against contractor bids or internal budgeting, to make sure those estimates are reasonable.

Some Construction Estimators work remotely, collecting information from local clients and contacts and then building their estimates from these reports. Other Estimators travel as necessary, examining construction sites, talking to local contacts, and meeting with clients. Additionally, depending on their position, a Construction Estimator’s work might not be done after preconstruction. Some Estimators monitor jobs in progress to watch for potential savings, cost overruns, inventory and labor problems, and other concerns that could alter a project’s final cost. 

What Tools Do I Need To Get Started?

A Construction Estimator’s main tools are used for gathering and storing information, visualizing projects, and calculating costs. These resources are largely computer files and programs, especially for large, complex estimation projects. No matter their employment, Construction Estimators need to know and use several technical tools to meet expected standards of efficiency and precision. To start work, a Construction Estimator will need several kinds of software and a computer capable of running those programs. Depending on their specific projects and the particular software they need, some Estimators can use cloud- and web-based systems and manage with a laptop, while others will need a desktop PC with a decent processor and graphics card to run sophisticated 3D modeling software. Some Construction Estimators own multiple systems, including an office desktop plus a laptop or tablet for on-site surveys and client meetings.

The software required by Construction Estimators falls into three general categories: 

• General software for information management and communication, such as an office suite with email, word processing, data entry, and image/visualization tools
• Visualization, design, drafting, and modeling programs, including:
• General 2D and 3D modeling programs like SketchUp
• Computer Assisted Design / Drafting (CAD) software, such as Autodesk AutoCAD, to view and edit building models and construction drawings
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, such as Autodesk Revit, which combines 3D models with detailed construction information
• Construction estimation software, which organizes project information, automates takeoff (itemizing and tallying costs), and generates detailed estimate reports
• Popular examples include ProEst, Stack, and Clear Estimates

During their training, Construction Estimators should learn at least one program in each category to understand how these tools work and how they contribute to an estimation workflow. When working, Estimators will use the programs that best fit their projects and employer. Freelance Estimators, though, must choose, operate, and pay for these programs themselves. Most design and cost estimation packages require a subscription fee, which covers support for the program, including updates to information packages.

A working Construction Estimator will also need informational resources, including: 

• Contacts and costs for construction materials and equipment
• Available labor: subcontractors, pay rates, expected benefits, etc.
• Local building regulations: zoning, licenses, safety rules, etc.
• Overhead costs: insurance, bonds, fees, transportation, waste disposal, etc.

Students usually have this information provided for them. A trainee or intern may be able to use resources provided by their employer, including preferred vendors and subcontractors. However, experienced, independent Construction Estimators should gather and maintain lists of sources, costs, and other professional contacts. These resources are especially important for freelance Construction Estimators, who research such information as part of their service.

Steps to Become a Construction Estimator

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General Education 

Every Construction Estimator needs certain fundamental skills. One way to establish these abilities is through a formal degree program, but some people develop and validate them entirely through their work history.

• Mathematics, especially algebra and geometry
• Verbal and written communication
• Organization, including data management and multitasking
• Attention to detail
• Financial awareness, including reasonable pricing, tax calculation, and budgeting

Technical Training

This step includes the knowledge and skills required for construction work. Most critically, a Construction Estimator must learn how to read construction plans and translate those plans into specific materials and tasks. Some Estimators gain this training through a degree program or vocational training. Others learn through work experience. A Construction Estimator does not need to have been a hands-on builder, but personal familiarity with construction labor is valuable.

Construction Estimators also need to know the various software systems used in building design and construction planning, particularly 2D and 3D modeling programs, Computer Assisted Design / Drafting (CAD) systems, and Building Information Models (BIM). Construction Estimators must also study construction estimation software, which organizes and automates many of their tasks. These software packages significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of estimation work, so their use is expected for any working Construction Estimator.

Work Experience

As noted, work experience can provide most of the education Construction Estimators need, especially if they have worked for a significant time in an appropriate position. However, even if an estimation student has a formal degree in an applicable field, they still need some work experience. This labor exposes them to real working conditions, such as the challenges of working with clients and subcontractors, the concerns of on-site builders, and actual expenses and complications. Some candidates work as construction estimation interns or trainees, gaining critical skills as they contribute to project planning. Others gain relevant experience in adjacent fields like architecture or civil engineering.

Estimation Training 

This study teaches students the specific tasks and tools of construction estimation, such as takeoff (the process of itemizing the elements of a building project and computing their costs) and bid creation. Some construction and engineering programs include estimation as part of their curriculum. Students with sufficient prior experience and related study can also add estimation training in a few weeks. Extended training in construction estimation is more necessary for either students with an unrelated degree or those whose work experience had fewer planning and technical aspects.

Construction Estimator Career Path

The Traditional Path: Formal Training

The most common career path for a Construction Estimator starts with formal education, typically a four-year undergraduate degree. During this study, students may not have chosen a career, but they are usually interested in construction. They may then work in the construction industry for a few more years, building relevant experience. A worker who decides they want to become a Construction Estimator needs some specific training and experience. A convenient way to gain both is to become an estimation intern or trainee, a junior employee learning on the job as they support the work of a Construction Manager or Senior Construction Estimator. These entry-level estimation positions are usually found within larger building companies, construction contractors, real estate developers, and civil planning agencies. Alternatively, a worker may continue working in a related position while taking classes on estimation. Once they have sharpened and proven their skills, workers can become professional Construction Estimators and pursue a broader range of potential employers.

Transitioning from Other Careers

Another path, less common but still well-established, is for workers with considerable related experience to transition into construction estimation. This transition can be easy for certain workers such as Construction Managers, who regularly collaborate with Estimators and may have performed some estimation tasks themselves. Other adjacent workers, like skilled tradespersons, accountants, or building engineers, may be able to adapt their skills with only a few added training courses. In addition to learning estimation techniques and tasks, these workers will need to learn several software systems used in construction estimation. Candidates with education and experience less related to construction or finance may need additional study in those areas in addition to construction estimation training.

Freelance Construction Estimation

Rather than working within a business or other organization, some Construction Estimators are self-employed, providing freelance estimation work to contracted clients. Their clients are usually smaller businesses that cannot afford or do not need a full-time staff Estimator, but freelancers may also fill in for missing workers or handle overflow work from large projects. They also act as independent reviewers, providing unbiased evaluations of construction bids, budgets, or expenses for a variety of clients.

Some freelance Construction Estimators start as in-house employees, while others graduate directly into self-employment. In rare cases, a diligent student may be able to gain the necessary knowledge and skills for construction estimation from training alone. While their lack of experience might discourage traditional employers, a novice freelancer might persuade clients through their professionalism and portfolio projects. After a few successful contracts, good reviews will help freelance Estimators secure new work and higher fees. A particular concern for freelance Construction Estimators is the need to maintain independent resources like computer hardware, software subscriptions, and informational resources like lists of vendors, subcontractors, and their pricing.

Certification

Once they have begun working in this field, Construction Estimators should pursue professional certification. Certifications are credentials backed by organizations that evaluate the skills and experience of workers in their industry. Some common certifications for Construction Estimators include Certified Professional Estimator (American Society of Professional Estimators) and Certified Estimating Professional (Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering). Certifications typically require some combination of formal education, vocational training, and work experience, and may also require candidates to pass a skills exam. Some certification holders must also pay a periodic renewal fee, pursue continuing education, or pass updated examinations to maintain their credentials. These requirements ensure that certification is proof of current competence. A Construction Estimator with certification will find employment more easily and can command a higher pay rate.

Why Become A Construction Estimator?

Construction Estimators are vitally necessary for the successful planning and execution of building projects, ensuring that costs are correctly anticipated and controlled. Good estimates can make a business successful and promote responsible budgeting; poor estimates can cause waste, loss, and even bankruptcy. This critical role ensures a sense of responsibility and accomplishment missing from many professions. 

For the same reasons, construction Estimators find consistent, widespread demand for their services and a good average income. Whenever and wherever construction work is needed, Construction Estimators can find employment. While most Construction Estimators work within building companies ranging from small subcontractors to major corporations, they can also find roles with real estate developers, utility companies, government departments like transportation and urban planning, and building and development consultants. Construction Estimators can also be freelancers, working on a contractual basis and filling in wherever full-time Estimators cannot be hired. Some Construction Estimators even work remotely, preparing estimates from their home computer.

Construction Estimators are highly skilled workers with regular opportunities to demonstrate their talents in challenging assignments. Work in this field makes use of multiple interrelated skills, including knowledge about construction needs and resources, accounting, data management, computer-aided design and visualization, and financial reporting. Experienced construction workers may find estimation a natural transition from manual labor to office work, especially if they want to move eventually into management positions. Construction estimation also puts workers in contact with every aspect of the construction industry, from technical tools to legal concerns to human resources. The contacts and skills gained through this work are particularly valuable for those interested in construction management, administration, or business ownership.

Learn the Skills to Become a Construction Estimator at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop and the Visual Design and Construction Institute (VDCI) offer online classes that teach the skills Construction Estimators need. In addition to classes on construction estimation, their curricula include general construction skills and construction and visualization software like 3D modeling, Computer-Assisted Drafting (CAD), and Building Information Model (BIM) systems. For each class, students complete one or more portfolio-quality projects, receive a certificate of completion, and can retake the course within 1 year, if needed.

Students prepared to pursue complete training in both CAD and BIM systems can combine both their certificate bundles into a single CAD/BIM Certificate Program. In addition to introductory and intermediate classes and two units of extended practice with construction documents for both programs, the combined program includes a professional-level capstone project, 120 hours of added elective classes (including advanced AutoCAD or specialized versions of Revit), and eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions to address difficult topics or get help with career preparation.

Students new to construction estimation should start with VDCI’s Construction Estimator Course, a self-paced course including video lessons, practice exercises, training projects, and supplemental reference materials. The course assumes no prior experience and explains the primary skills of a Construction Estimator: reading construction drawings, translating those plans into component lists, calculating component costs, and accounting for various other expenses. 

Another set of self-paced courses explains how to read construction documents, often called blueprints. Construction Estimators need to completely understand building plans in any format, physical or virtual, to accurately extract information for their estimates. VDCI’s Blueprint Reading Fundamentals Course Bundle includes courses on both residential and commercial construction, combined at a discounted rate. This bundle can also be combined with the Construction Estimator Course as a Blueprint Reading & Construction Estimating Course Bundle.

For those without previous construction experience, VCDI’s self-paced Construction Fundamentals Course Bundle provides a thorough introduction to the processes, systems, and materials of building construction through video lectures and active projects. This series of six class units covers site surveying and foundation work, steel and concrete building structures, the components of the building envelope (including walls, floors, and roofing), interior and finishing work, utility systems like electrical and plumbing, fire protection, and final cleanup steps. The bundle also includes a one hour, 1-on-1 mentoring session with an expert instructor.

Alongside programs specifically for construction estimation, Construction Estimators often use Building Information Modeling (BIM) software like Autodesk Revit to itemize the details of a construction project. BIM programs combine 2D and 3D modeling tools with informational resources representing materials, work stages, and other components. VDCI’s Revit Fundamentals Course Bundle combines an introduction to the program and BIM systems in general with an intermediate course that extends and expands students’ ability to create and read detailed building models. Students learn how to create a full-featured 3D building model, create and use 2D representations within that model, and generate architectural graphics, working building plans, and schedules that list material and labor requirements. These courses also address workflow design to improve efficiency in Revit. 

Like BIM, Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) is also frequently used to visualize building projects, both to guide estimates and to collaborate with clients and colleagues. CAD programs like Autodesk AutoCAD create detailed visual and spatial representations that can depict buildings and construction sites. Construction estimation students will benefit most from VDCI’s Autodesk CAD Certification Bundle, a set of five self-paced classes that include an introduction to the program, an intermediate class explaining the creation of construction documents, two extended units building further construction document skills, and a class on smaller-scale detail drawings in CAD. This bundle is designed to prepare students for Autodesk Certified User in AutoCAD certification, and the course includes a voucher for the certification exam and a free exam retake if needed. Students also receive a 1-on-1 training session they can use for exam preparation or career advising.