H-1B Visa Estimator Jobs
Estimator roles qualify for H-1B sponsorship when the position requires a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field. Large general contractors, specialty subcontractors, and engineering firms regularly file LCAs for estimating positions. Your degree field and the employer's prevailing wage compliance are the two factors that determine whether your offer converts to a petition.
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McCarthy’s Preconstruction team is looking to add an Estimator to our St. Louis office. The Estimator’s position establishes the fundamental principles for an individual’s growth and success within McCarthy’s Preconstruction career path. The Estimator will participate in all aspects of the bid/estimating process, including but not limited to – review of plans and specs, soliciting and negotiating prices with subcontractors/suppliers, quantity take-off, pricing, scoping and bidding of construction process. This role is highly collaborative and will work closely with McCarthy’s internal teams as well as external suppliers, owners, architects and engineers.
Responsibilities
Estimating Support for Projects
- Performs quantity take-offs.
- Assists in the pricing and bidding of construction projects.
- Communicates with architects and consultants to clarify scope of work, materials, and schedule requirements, and documents these clarifications.
- Conducts reviews of milestone documents for the development and pricing of value alternative opportunities.
- Actively participates in the internal estimate review process.
- Assists with final assembly of estimate for presentation to owner.
- After the bid, collects and organizes all bid information for future reference.
- Aids field operations with change order pricing if needed.
Subcontractor Analysis for Bids
- Directs, coordinates and provides information and documents to subcontractors.
- Prepares contractual exhibits for scope of work for subcontracts.
- Participates in hard bid/estimating and GMP budgeting activities by soliciting subcontractor support and evaluating bids.
Industry Knowledge / Relationships
- Builds relationships with subcontractors to obtain a competitive advantage for McCarthy.
- Attends industry events and represents McCarthy to the industry in a professional capacity.
- Builds and maintains relationships with internal McCarthy clients.
- Keeps current with latest estimating technology and techniques.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering or related major OR 2+ years of experience required.
- Basic knowledge of estimating technology and tools such as On-Screen Takeoff (OST), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Assemble, Revit and Bluebeam or related software required.
- Ability to read and interpret drawings and specifications required.
- Must demonstrate behaviors consistent with McCarthy core values while maintaining a "value added" approach to estimating.
- Strong math and analytical skills with attention to detail required.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills required.
- General knowledge of construction principles and processes, as well as negotiated/hard bids and GMP processes preferred.
McCarthy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
NOTICE TO EXTERNAL SEARCH FIRMS: McCarthy’s Talent Acquisition Team is the only authorized representative permitted to engage with external search firms, staffing agencies, or other third-party recruiting partners. McCarthy maintains an Approved Agency List for recruiting partners, which is reviewed and updated annually.
McCarthy will only consider submissions from agencies with a signed fee agreement in place for the current year. McCarthy does not accept unsolicited resumes, candidate submissions, or referrals from agencies that do not meet these requirements.
If a candidate is submitted without an active agreement, McCarthy will have no obligation to pay any fees and reserves the right to contact, engage, interview, or hire such candidate(s) without any financial or other responsibility to the submitting agency. Unsolicited resumes, including those sent directly to hiring managers or other employees, will be considered the property of McCarthy.
Position Summary
McCarthy’s Preconstruction team is looking to add an Estimator to our St. Louis office. The Estimator’s position establishes the fundamental principles for an individual’s growth and success within McCarthy’s Preconstruction career path. The Estimator will participate in all aspects of the bid/estimating process, including but not limited to – review of plans and specs, soliciting and negotiating prices with subcontractors/suppliers, quantity take-off, pricing, scoping and bidding of construction process. This role is highly collaborative and will work closely with McCarthy’s internal teams as well as external suppliers, owners, architects and engineers.
Responsibilities
Estimating Support for Projects
- Performs quantity take-offs.
- Assists in the pricing and bidding of construction projects.
- Communicates with architects and consultants to clarify scope of work, materials, and schedule requirements, and documents these clarifications.
- Conducts reviews of milestone documents for the development and pricing of value alternative opportunities.
- Actively participates in the internal estimate review process.
- Assists with final assembly of estimate for presentation to owner.
- After the bid, collects and organizes all bid information for future reference.
- Aids field operations with change order pricing if needed.
Subcontractor Analysis for Bids
- Directs, coordinates and provides information and documents to subcontractors.
- Prepares contractual exhibits for scope of work for subcontracts.
- Participates in hard bid/estimating and GMP budgeting activities by soliciting subcontractor support and evaluating bids.
Industry Knowledge / Relationships
- Builds relationships with subcontractors to obtain a competitive advantage for McCarthy.
- Attends industry events and represents McCarthy to the industry in a professional capacity.
- Builds and maintains relationships with internal McCarthy clients.
- Keeps current with latest estimating technology and techniques.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering or related major OR 2+ years of experience required.
- Basic knowledge of estimating technology and tools such as On-Screen Takeoff (OST), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Assemble, Revit and Bluebeam or related software required.
- Ability to read and interpret drawings and specifications required.
- Must demonstrate behaviors consistent with McCarthy core values while maintaining a "value added" approach to estimating.
- Strong math and analytical skills with attention to detail required.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills required.
- General knowledge of construction principles and processes, as well as negotiated/hard bids and GMP processes preferred.
McCarthy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
NOTICE TO EXTERNAL SEARCH FIRMS: McCarthy’s Talent Acquisition Team is the only authorized representative permitted to engage with external search firms, staffing agencies, or other third-party recruiting partners. McCarthy maintains an Approved Agency List for recruiting partners, which is reviewed and updated annually.
McCarthy will only consider submissions from agencies with a signed fee agreement in place for the current year. McCarthy does not accept unsolicited resumes, candidate submissions, or referrals from agencies that do not meet these requirements.
If a candidate is submitted without an active agreement, McCarthy will have no obligation to pay any fees and reserves the right to contact, engage, interview, or hire such candidate(s) without any financial or other responsibility to the submitting agency. Unsolicited resumes, including those sent directly to hiring managers or other employees, will be considered the property of McCarthy.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Estimator
Verify your degree supports specialty occupation
USCIS requires that an Estimator role normally require a bachelor's degree in a specific field like construction management, civil engineering, or quantity surveying. A general business degree alone may trigger an RFE, so confirm your employer's job description explicitly states a field-specific requirement.
Check prevailing wage before accepting offers
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV wage for Estimators under SOC code 13-1051 in your work location. If the offered salary falls below Level I, the employer can't file a compliant LCA, which blocks the H-1B petition entirely.
Target employers with active LCA filing history
Search Migrate Mate to filter Estimator roles by employers who have filed LCAs for this occupation. Companies with repeat filings in construction, infrastructure, and engineering sectors already understand the process and are less likely to withdraw sponsorship mid-petition.
Document project scope and technical complexity
When your employer builds the H-1B petition, USCIS scrutinizes whether the Estimator role genuinely requires a degree. Gather project documentation showing cost modeling, bid analysis, or systems like Procore or Timberline that require specialized training, not just work experience alone.
Understand how project-based work affects your status
Estimators who move between job sites must have LCA certifications that cover each worksite location. If your employer wins a contract in a new state, DOL requires an amended or new LCA before you work there, which adds processing time to your timeline.
File premium processing if your start date is fixed
USCIS offers 15-business-day adjudication through premium processing for an additional fee. Estimating roles often have project-tied start dates, so a delayed decision can affect bid commitments. Confirm with your employer early whether they'll cover this cost before the petition is submitted.
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Find Estimator JobsEstimator H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Estimator role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It can qualify, but it's not automatic. USCIS evaluates whether the specific Estimator position normally requires a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as construction management, civil engineering, or architecture. Roles that accept any degree or substitute extensive experience for a degree are at higher risk of an RFE. Your employer's job description must clearly tie the position to a field-specific educational requirement.
Which industries sponsor H-1B visas most often for Estimator roles?
General contractors, specialty subcontractors, engineering and design-build firms, and infrastructure consultancies are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for Estimators. Defense contractors and large commercial developers also file regularly. You can filter by employer and occupation on Migrate Mate to see which companies have active LCA filings specifically for estimating and cost management roles.
What happens to my H-1B status if I'm moved between project sites?
DOL requires a certified LCA for each location where you work for more than 30 continuous days or 60 non-continuous days in a year. If your employer sends you to a new city or state on a project, they need to file a new or amended LCA covering that worksite before you begin work there. Short-term travel under those thresholds is generally exempt, but confirm the specifics with your employer's immigration counsel.
Can I switch employers mid-H-1B while working as an Estimator?
Yes. Under H-1B portability rules, you can start working for a new employer as soon as they file an H-1B transfer petition, without waiting for approval, provided you've been in valid H-1B status and the petition is non-frivolous. The new employer must file their own LCA covering the Estimator role and location, and the offered wage must meet DOL prevailing wage requirements for that position.
How does the O*NET classification affect my H-1B petition as an Estimator?
USCIS references O*NET job zone classifications when evaluating specialty occupation status. The O*NET profile for Cost Estimators (SOC 13-1051) places the role in Job Zone 4, which corresponds to substantial education requirements. Your employer's petition should align the job duties with the O*NET description and cite the degree requirement directly. Deviations between your actual duties and the O*NET profile can invite additional scrutiny.
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