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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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22303.00 – Construction estimators

Construction estimators analyze costs of and prepare estimates on civil engineering, architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical construction projects.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Chief estimator - construction
  • Construction estimator
  • Cost estimator - construction
  • Principal estimator - construction
  • Professional quantity surveyor
  • Quantity surveyor - construction

Core competencies

  • Management of Financial Resources to allocate resources, negotiate prices with suppliers and subcontractors and identify opportunities for cost savings
  • Management of Material Resources to allocate and purchase different materials based on their costs, availability and specifications to remain within project budgets
  • Mathematical Reasoning and Numerical Ability to calculate dimensions and quantities to determine costs accurately
  • Categorization Flexibility and Information Ordering to ensure accounting for all necessary expenses and allocate resources efficiently by organizing tasks
  • Attention to Detail to meticulously review plans, specifications and data for accuracy and to avoid costly mistakes
  • Knowledge in Building and Construction to understand legal and safety requirements to produce estimates and anticipate factors that may affect project costs

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Prepare estimates of probable costs of materials, labour and equipment for construction projects based on contract bids, quotations, schematic drawings and specifications
  • Advise on tendering procedures, examine and analyze tenders, recommend tender awards and conduct negotiations
  • Establish and maintain tendering process and set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures
  • Prepare cost and expenditure statements and forecasts at regular intervals for the duration of a project
  • Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors
  • Liaise, consult and communicate with engineers, architects, owners, contractors and subcontractors, and prepare economic feasibility studies on changes and adjustments to cost estimates
  • Manage and coordinate construction projects and prepare construction progress schedules.

Additional information

  • Progression to more senior positions in this unit group, such as senior estimator or to construction management positions is possible with experience.
  • Estimators may specialize in estimating costs for structural, electrical or mechanical construction projects.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Architectural technologists and technicians (22210)
  • Civil engineering technologists and technicians (22300)
  • Civil engineers (21300)
  • Construction managers (70010)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

22 – Technical occupations related to natural and applied sciences

Sub-major group

223 – Technical occupations related to engineering

Minor group

2230 – Technical occupations in civil, mechanical and industrial engineering

Unit group

22303 – Construction estimators

Occupational profile

22303.00 – Construction estimators

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.