H-1B Visa Construction Cost Estimator Jobs
Construction Cost Estimator roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, or a related field. Employers in commercial construction, infrastructure, and general contracting regularly sponsor H-1B petitions for experienced estimators who can analyze bids, manage quantity takeoffs, and control project budgets.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany Description
Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries.
Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.
Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.
We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.
Job Description
Turner & Townsend is seeking a Cost Estimator to support a global tech client's global office space portfolio in Cupertino. The hybrid role involves estimating for architecturally innovative commercial office space real estate. This role focuses on developing accurate and detailed cost estimates while also supporting benchmarking, cost tracking, and indexing efforts to ensure financial feasibility and performance throughout the project lifecycle.
The ideal candidate will bring strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively with project teams, contractors, and clients.
This is a hybrid role, requiring 3 days a week on-site presence in Cupertino, CA (Tuesday - Thursday).
Responsibilities:
- Perform benchmarking analysis using the client’s historical project cost data.
- Analyze cost trends and variances to support budgeting and forecasting decisions.
- Apply estimating expertise to evaluate project costs and validate assumptions.
- Leverage experience working with General Contractors to assess bid structures and pricing strategies.
- Review and interpret GC bids with a strong understanding of how costs are built at the trade level.
- Utilize trade knowledge to identify cost drivers, risks, and opportunities for optimization.
- Prepare detailed cost estimates for office space construction projects, including new builds, remodels, tenant improvements, and renovations.
- Interpret drawings and specifications to assess scope and apply knowledge of materials, labor, equipment, and subcontractor pricing.
- Support benchmarking efforts by analyzing historical cost data and industry trends to inform future estimates and planning.
- Develop accurate cost projections using conceptual modeling, historic pricing analysis, and detailed quantity takeoffs to support early-stage and pre-construction planning.
- Build and maintain project cash flow forecasts, ensuring alignment with schedule milestones, procurement strategies, and financial controls.
- Identify and drive process improvement opportunities within estimating workflows, enhancing accuracy, efficiency, and cross-department collaboration.
- Develop and maintain cost databases and indexes to track pricing fluctuations and regional cost variations.
- Monitor construction costs throughout the project lifecycle, providing regular updates and variance analysis to ensure adherence to budget.
- Perform value engineering to help clients meet budget goals without compromising quality or functionality.
- Assist in soliciting and evaluating bids from subcontractors and suppliers, ensuring competitiveness and alignment with project requirements.
- Review bid proposals and contracts to identify discrepancies or inconsistencies.
- Prepare cost analysis reports and present findings to clients and senior management.
- Forecast and manage cash flow requirements for office space construction projects.
- Collaborate with project managers, architects, engineers, and subcontractors to ensure alignment between scope, design, and cost projections.
- Attend project meetings and provide input on cost management, budget changes, and cost-saving opportunities.
- Maintain detailed records of cost estimates, change orders, and project documentation for reference and auditing.
- Identify and assess potential cost risks during pre-construction and construction phases, recommending mitigation strategies.
- Stay current on industry trends, economic factors, and regulatory changes that may impact project costs or timelines.
- SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role and must be adhered to where applicable.
Qualifications
- Able to work on-site work at the client’s Cupertino location three days a week; Tuesday through Thursday.
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in cost estimating within office space construction or related sectors (e.g., commercial, hospitality, institutional).
- Strong expertise in cost estimation, with the ability to develop detailed budgets and pricing models across all project phases.
- Experience in benchmarking and cost tracking, including maintaining cost databases and analyzing historical pricing data.
- Proficiency with cost estimating software (e.g., ProEst, Buildertrend, Procore, Bluebeam, or similar).
- Solid analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and identify cost optimization opportunities.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and present findings clearly.
Additional Information
The salary range for this full-time role is $114K-$135K per year. Ranges are determined by role and level and represent a good faith effort to provide a fair and equitable salary. This range is a reflection of base salary only, not of a total compensation package. Please note Turner & Townsend reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range, depending on candidate’s experience and qualifications.
On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs
Qualified candidates with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with LA County ordinance and CA law.
Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.
We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this, we promote a healthy, productive, and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.
Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Company Description
Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries.
Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.
Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.
We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.
Job Description
Turner & Townsend is seeking a Cost Estimator to support a global tech client's global office space portfolio in Cupertino. The hybrid role involves estimating for architecturally innovative commercial office space real estate. This role focuses on developing accurate and detailed cost estimates while also supporting benchmarking, cost tracking, and indexing efforts to ensure financial feasibility and performance throughout the project lifecycle.
The ideal candidate will bring strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively with project teams, contractors, and clients.
This is a hybrid role, requiring 3 days a week on-site presence in Cupertino, CA (Tuesday - Thursday).
Responsibilities:
- Perform benchmarking analysis using the client’s historical project cost data.
- Analyze cost trends and variances to support budgeting and forecasting decisions.
- Apply estimating expertise to evaluate project costs and validate assumptions.
- Leverage experience working with General Contractors to assess bid structures and pricing strategies.
- Review and interpret GC bids with a strong understanding of how costs are built at the trade level.
- Utilize trade knowledge to identify cost drivers, risks, and opportunities for optimization.
- Prepare detailed cost estimates for office space construction projects, including new builds, remodels, tenant improvements, and renovations.
- Interpret drawings and specifications to assess scope and apply knowledge of materials, labor, equipment, and subcontractor pricing.
- Support benchmarking efforts by analyzing historical cost data and industry trends to inform future estimates and planning.
- Develop accurate cost projections using conceptual modeling, historic pricing analysis, and detailed quantity takeoffs to support early-stage and pre-construction planning.
- Build and maintain project cash flow forecasts, ensuring alignment with schedule milestones, procurement strategies, and financial controls.
- Identify and drive process improvement opportunities within estimating workflows, enhancing accuracy, efficiency, and cross-department collaboration.
- Develop and maintain cost databases and indexes to track pricing fluctuations and regional cost variations.
- Monitor construction costs throughout the project lifecycle, providing regular updates and variance analysis to ensure adherence to budget.
- Perform value engineering to help clients meet budget goals without compromising quality or functionality.
- Assist in soliciting and evaluating bids from subcontractors and suppliers, ensuring competitiveness and alignment with project requirements.
- Review bid proposals and contracts to identify discrepancies or inconsistencies.
- Prepare cost analysis reports and present findings to clients and senior management.
- Forecast and manage cash flow requirements for office space construction projects.
- Collaborate with project managers, architects, engineers, and subcontractors to ensure alignment between scope, design, and cost projections.
- Attend project meetings and provide input on cost management, budget changes, and cost-saving opportunities.
- Maintain detailed records of cost estimates, change orders, and project documentation for reference and auditing.
- Identify and assess potential cost risks during pre-construction and construction phases, recommending mitigation strategies.
- Stay current on industry trends, economic factors, and regulatory changes that may impact project costs or timelines.
- SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role and must be adhered to where applicable.
Qualifications
- Able to work on-site work at the client’s Cupertino location three days a week; Tuesday through Thursday.
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in cost estimating within office space construction or related sectors (e.g., commercial, hospitality, institutional).
- Strong expertise in cost estimation, with the ability to develop detailed budgets and pricing models across all project phases.
- Experience in benchmarking and cost tracking, including maintaining cost databases and analyzing historical pricing data.
- Proficiency with cost estimating software (e.g., ProEst, Buildertrend, Procore, Bluebeam, or similar).
- Solid analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and identify cost optimization opportunities.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and present findings clearly.
Additional Information
The salary range for this full-time role is $114K-$135K per year. Ranges are determined by role and level and represent a good faith effort to provide a fair and equitable salary. This range is a reflection of base salary only, not of a total compensation package. Please note Turner & Townsend reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range, depending on candidate’s experience and qualifications.
On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs
Qualified candidates with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with LA County ordinance and CA law.
Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.
We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this, we promote a healthy, productive, and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.
Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
See all 49+ H-1B Visa Construction Cost Estimator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Construction Cost Estimator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Construction Cost Estimator
Verify your degree aligns with estimating
USCIS requires your degree field to directly relate to cost estimating duties. A degree in construction management, civil engineering, or quantity surveying clears this bar. Architecture or business degrees may need a credential evaluation showing coursework in cost analysis.
Target contractors with active LCA histories
Search Migrate Mate to filter Construction Cost Estimator roles by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for this occupation. That filing history confirms the employer understands H-1B obligations before you invest time in their process.
Pull prevailing wage data before negotiating
Run your target metro area through the OFLC Wage Search using SOC code 13-1051 before discussing compensation. Your offer must meet the DOL wage level tied to your experience, and knowing that floor protects you from undershooting.
Flag software proficiency in your resume clearly
Employers filing H-1B petitions for estimators often cite specialized software requirements, such as RSMeans, Timberline, or Bluebeam, as evidence of specialty occupation. Listing specific tools you use strengthens both your application and the employer's USCIS petition argument.
Ask about cap-exempt status during screening
Hospitals, universities, and nonprofit research institutions are cap-exempt, meaning your H-1B petition bypasses the annual lottery entirely. Construction estimators at healthcare systems or campus facilities departments qualify and can start work after USCIS approval at any time of year.
Confirm the employer files before April
H-1B cap registrations open in March, and USCIS selects registrants before April 1. If you're negotiating an offer in late winter, confirm your employer's timeline for submitting the registration and retaining counsel so your petition is ready to file immediately after selection.
H-1B Visa Construction Cost Estimator: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Construction Cost Estimator role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, as long as the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as construction management, civil engineering, or quantity surveying. USCIS evaluates the job duties rather than the title alone, so your employer's job description should emphasize analytical and technical responsibilities that require that specific degree-level knowledge.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for cost estimators?
General contractors, construction management firms, engineering consultancies, and large owner-operators in sectors like healthcare and infrastructure are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for estimating roles. You can browse verified sponsors with active LCA filing histories for this occupation on Migrate Mate, which filters listings by employers who have already demonstrated H-1B sponsorship activity.
How does the DOL prevailing wage requirement affect estimator roles?
Your employer must pay you at least the DOL prevailing wage for Construction Cost Estimators in your specific metro area before USCIS will approve the H-1B petition. The wage level depends on your experience tier, from Level I for entry-level to Level IV for senior positions. Use the OFLC Wage Search with SOC code 13-1051 to look up the applicable rate before accepting an offer.
Can I switch employers mid-H-1B if I'm already working as a cost estimator?
Yes. H-1B portability under AC21 lets you move to a new employer once your current petition has been approved and you file a new H-1B petition with the new company. You can start work for the new employer as soon as that petition is received by USCIS, without waiting for approval, as long as you've been in valid H-1B status.
Does working in different project locations affect my H-1B status as an estimator?
It can. If your role requires you to work at client sites or project locations outside your employer's primary worksite, your employer may need to post LCA notices at each location and, in some cases, file an amended H-1B petition. Short-term assignments within commuting distance of your certified worksite typically don't trigger this requirement, but extended placements at new locations often do.