Construction Opportunity: Estimator

Estimator Current Vacancies

2007-03-06:

Estimators, often known as cost engineers, work for manufacturing, engineering, construction and service companies.

When making estimates they take into account factors such as material costs, cost of operating or hiring plant or specialist equipment, transport costs, labour and other overheads such as rent, administration, electricity and other services.

Estimators also have to build into their bids risk identification, inflation and exchange rate variables, projected timescales and allowances to cover contingencies.

In putting bids together, data is gathered from internal company records, stock figures, price indices, industry journals, quotations from suppliers and sub-contractors, and transport and hire companies.

Estimators work closely with other professionals including quantity surveyors, buyers, construction managers and planning engineers.

Estimators work between 37 and 40 hours, Monday to Friday.
The work is usually office-based but estimators working in construction or engineering may be required to work on-site.

Prospects are good as jobs are available in many sectors: light and heavy engineering, manufacturing, process industries such as oil and chemicals, public utilities, transport and construction.

Many larger companies have estimating departments.
Opportunities to progress to project leader, section manager and estimating department manager may become available.

With experience and further training, promotion may be possible to more senior roles, such as cost engineer.
Larger firms may have positions working on overseas contracts.

Assistant estimators earn between 16,500 and 19,500. (Permalink)