Career Details
13-1051.00 - Cost Estimators
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.
Key Facts

Tasks

Core
- Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
- Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
- Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
- Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
- Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
- Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
- Review material and labor requirements to decide whether it is more cost-effective to produce or purchase components.
- Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors.
- Set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures.
- Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.
- Conduct special studies to develop and establish standard hour and related cost data or to reduce cost.
- Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
Supplemental
- Prepare cost and expenditure statements and other necessary documentation at regular intervals for the duration of the project.
- Visit site and record information about access, drainage and topography, and availability of utility services.
Knowledge

- 90%Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- 80%Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- 78%Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- 76%Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
- 75%Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- 70%Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
- 70%Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- 65%Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- 64%Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- 62%Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- 62%Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- 58%Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- 55%Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
- 55%Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- 50%Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Tools

- Desktop computers
- Notebook computers
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Tablet computers
- Scanners
Technology

- Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
- Laserfiche Avante
- Apple AppleWorks
- Corel QuattroPro
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- Microsoft ExcelHOT
- Microsoft OneNote
- Microsoft PowerPointHOT
- Microsoft VisioHOT
- Microsoft WordHOT
- Trimble SketchUp ProHOT
- Assured Software JPP
- Microsoft AccessHOT
- Microsoft Business Contact Manager
- Oracle HyperionHOT
- Sage 100 Contractor
- Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate
- SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports
- Software AG
- Xactware Xactimate
- Autodesk AutoCADHOT
- Autodesk RevitHOT
- Computer aided design and drafting CADD softwareHOT
- ConEst Electrical Formulas
- ConEst IntelliBid Design BuildHOT
- ConEst SureCountHOT
- Construction Management Software ProEst
- Dassault Systemes CATIAHOT
- Decisioneering Crystal Ball
- QSM SLIM
- Resources Calculations Incorporated SoftCost
- WinEstimator WinEst
- Choice Job Cost
- ConEst Intellibid
- ConEst T&M Billing Manager
- Cost accounting software
- Cost estimation software
- CPR International GeneralCOST Estimator
- CPR Visual Estimator
- IBM Costimater
- Intuit QuickBooksHOT
- Microsoft DynamicsHOT
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOneHOT
- Palisade @Risk
- PRICE Sytems TruePlanning
- Primavera Cost Management
- Sage 50 Accounting
- SAPHOT
- Softstar Costar COCOMO II
- ConEst BidTrac
- ConEst JobTrac
- ConEst Permit Trac
- EFI Hagen OA
- Galorath SEER
- Galorath SEER-SEM
- HCSS HeavyBid
- HCSS HeavyJob
- Logic Software Easy Projects.NET
- Microsoft OfficeHOT
- Microsoft ProjectHOT
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementHOT
- Microsoft OutlookHOT
Certifications

- Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist1101 Brickell Av. Suite 601-South Miami, FL 33131, United States
- Certified Professional Estimator2525 Perimeter Place Drive - suite 103 Nashville, TN 37214
- Certified Construction Specifier99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314
- Certified Cost Professional209 Prairie Avenue, Suite 100, Morgantown, WV 26501304-296-8444
- Certified Gemologist Appraiser8881 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89117
- Certified Estimating Professional209 Prairie Avenue, Suite 100, Morgantown, WV 26501304-296-8444
- Independent Certified Gemologist Appraiser8881 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89117
- Registered Jeweler8881 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89117
- Certified Anti-Money Laundering Consultant1670-F East Cheyenne Mtn. Blvd.; Box #293 Colorado Springs, CO 80906
- Value Methodology Practitioner136 South Keowee Street, Dayton, OH 45402
- Certified Scheduling Technician209 Prairie Avenue, Suite 100, Morgantown, WV 26501304-296-8444
- Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst8221 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 106, Vienna, VA 22182
- Certified Cost Technician209 Prairie Avenue, Suite 100, Morgantown, WV 26501304-296-8444
- Certified Healthcare Constructor155 N. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606800-424-4301
Licensing

Related Programs

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
The School of Accounting enjoys a national reputation for excellence in accounting education and is viewed as a prime recruiting school by accounting employers throughout the mid-Atlantic region. The school offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree and a Master of Science in Accounting (M.S.A.). Most students choose to receive both degrees and thereby satisfy the 150 semester hours of education required in most states to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam.
Several features of the accounting program are distinctive:
- Outstanding employment opportunities.
- A post-graduation CPA exam review course offered on campus.
- Opportunities for internships.
The B.B.A. degree with a major in finance requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of undergraduate course work. Fifty percent of this work, or 60 credit hours, must be taken outside of the College of Business. In counting the 60 credit hours of non-business courses, students may include all hours taken in General Education, up to a total of nine hours in economics (ECON courses must be counted as economics), and three hours of COB 191. Business Analytics I. The remaining hours, to bring the total to 60, must be taken from any department outside the College of Business. Students should carefully select these non-business electives to help them gain additional knowledge and expertise for their careers and personal lives.
Students enrolled at James Madison University who wish to change their major to finance should go to the Student Center in MyMadison to submit a request. Students must be in good academic standing to change their major to finance and, if they have taken any FIN prefix courses at the time of the change request, must meet the prerequisites for the required courses in the finance major.
Students who plan to major in finance and earn a score on the Math Placement Exam sufficient for placement into MATH 235 are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 235.
Required major courses provide finance majors with a foundation in financial management, investments and institutions. Electives within the major permit students to obtain an additional emphasis and explore other areas within the field of finance.
The international business major is part of the nationally recognized JMU College of Business. Most business, government, and not-for-profit enterprises operate today in a global environment. Success is more certain for those who are aware of events and cultures outside of their own. The program's goal is to equip students with the ability to work comfortably in multiple areas of the global marketplace through interdisciplinary study. International business majors take specialized courses in all the business disciplines (e.g. international accounting, international marketing) as well as courses in a foreign language.
To ensure success, competency in a second language and thorough exposure to a chosen second culture are graduation requirements. In addition, study abroad or a one semester international internship is required and must be integrated into the student's schedule. The requirements of the major are designed to allow students to choose an optional concentration in finance or marketing, and some international business majors also declare a second major such as foreign language or another business area.
Management skills are broadly applicable and our graduates go on to a wide range of professions in both the public and private sector. The major is also designed to help those thinking of starting their own business or aiding a family business. Finally, many students find the broad business training of the management major a helpful foundation for future graduate study.
As part of the nationally recognized JMU College of Business, the marketing major prepares students to assume professional and leadership roles in the rapidly changing, technically-oriented and competitive world of marketing by helping students develop specialized skills in the management of customer relationships through the creation, communication and delivery of value to customers. The curriculum provides a solid foundation of the knowledge and skills needed to develop effective marketing efforts. The major offers a concentration in Professional Sales and an area of emphasis in Digital Marketing.
Students gain knowledge and experience through general education courses, the College of Business core curriculum, and the marketing major with various combinations of required and elective marketing courses. Marketing faculty and staff work with students in small classes and individually to help them build leadership and team skills. Strong connections are made between in-class study and the business world through experiential course projects, case studies, simulations, independent studies and internships.
Marketing majors conform to the general structure of the B.B.A. degree program. The B.B.A. degree in marketing requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of undergraduate course work.
As part of the nationally recognized JMU College of Business, the economics major fosters an understanding and appreciation of economic forms of explanation and their relationships to other social sciences. The major will provide students with an intellectual foundation for the appreciation and understanding of economic theory and policy that stresses the importance of imaginative thinking, free inquiry and the pursuit of life-long learning. In this way, the program prepares students with the economic literacy necessary to cope with the challenges inherent in a world of accelerating change.
Economics majors are generally educated students, who go on to develop their analytical, investigative and research skills. With this major, students will use their understanding of economics relationships and markets to work for manufacturing firms, financial services firms, consulting firms, the health care industries, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Economists with strong statistical backgrounds conduct research, analyze data and develop forecasts. Students with a good background in this field are competitive in the job market.
Purpose: This curriculum is designed for individuals who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree program in business administration with a major in accounting, business management, decision science and management, information systems, finance, marketing, etc.
A major in business offers students the opportunity to explore theories and concepts from accounting, business, and economics. Students study in an active learning environment and begin to understand and appreciate the complex nature of business organizations through applied economic theory. A major in business prepares students for a career in all business environments and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in such fields as business and law. The major in business requires a common core of courses plus one of three concentrations: Finance, Management, or Marketing. All courses in the core and in each concentration must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
A major in business offers students the opportunity to explore theories and concepts from accounting, business, and economics. Students study in an active learning environment and begin to understand and appreciate the complex nature of business organizations through applied economic theory. A major in business prepares students for a career in all business environments and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in such fields as business and law. The major in business requires a common core of courses plus one of three concentrations: Finance, Management, or Marketing. All courses in the core and in each concentration must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
The study of accounting at Randolph-Macon College provides students with the opportunity to become fluent in the language of business within the unique setting of a liberal arts education. Students study accounting in an active learning environment incorporating theories and concepts from the fields of accounting, business, and economics. They learn to understand and appreciate the complex nature of business organizations. A major in accounting prepares students for a career in all business environments and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in such fields as accounting, business, taxation, and law. All courses in the major and minor must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
A major in business offers students the opportunity to explore theories and concepts from accounting, business, and economics. Students study in an active learning environment and begin to understand and appreciate the complex nature of business organizations through applied economic theory. A major in business prepares students for a career in all business environments and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in such fields as business and law. The major in business requires a common core of courses plus one of three concentrations: Finance, Management, or Marketing. All courses in the core and in each concentration must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
Students with a baccalaureate degree who wish to pursue the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination may use specific course work toward fulfillment of accounting educational requirements. Some course work also meets federal government guidelines for those interested in qualifying for positions or promotions in the federal government. Students should consult an accounting instructor to determine the courses that meet the educational requirements.
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree provides students with a strong foundation in accounting and business, along with general education requirements, enabling students to seek entry-level employment in accounting. In addition, the course work prepares students for certification exams.
The certificate programs provide course work that gives students the skills to sit for one or more certification exams administered by the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation (ACAT).
Students completing the A.A.S. in Management have opportunities to transfer to four-year universities to pursue B.S. degrees in Business Administration, Management, and related areas. See https://www.tcc.edu/programs/transfer/transfer-agreements/ for agreements.
Courses required for the Business Administration degree are available on all four campuses.
Admission to the Engineering program requires satisfactory completion of the following high school units or their equivalents: four units of English; four units of mathematics (two units of algebra, one unit of plane geometry, one unit of advanced mathematics or trigonometry and solid geometry); one unit of laboratory science; and one unit of social studies.
Students desiring to enter the A.S. in Engineering program must provide proof of having a strong foundation in math and science and be eligible to take ENG 111. Additional information is available online at tcc.edu (search keyword "Engineering").
Engineering courses required for the Engineering degree are available at the Chesapeake and Virginia Beach campuses.
Graduates of the maritime logistics program may enter or continue employment in the field of logistics management in maritime or traditional business environments.