Construction Estimator
What the work is
Prepares and delivers estimates and cost plans for construction projects up to tender settlement stage.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Reviews project plans and specifications to understand project requirements, then projects the overall costs of materials, labour and planning of construction
- Conducts site visits to gather information and assess project conditions
- Researches and obtains quotes, then negotiates deals with suppliers and subcontractors
- Collaborates with architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and contractors to clarify project details
- Prepares and presents cost plans to clients and stakeholders, and recommends ways to reduce costs
- Assists in the negotiation and settlement of project tenders
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in the estimating office of a mid-sized fictional building company, with tender deadlines on the wall. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- Your price is tight and accurate, and the company wins the job it wanted
- You walk a site and spot a problem that would have blown out the budget later
- A supplier you built a good relationship with finds a better price when you need it
Hard days
- A tender closes at noon and three key quotes still have not come in
- Someone senior wants the price lowered to win, and the numbers say it cannot be
- Late changes to the plans mean you redo hours of careful work in an afternoon
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 312331, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.