Construction Cost Estimator Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Construction cost estimators are in steady demand from U.S. employers willing to sponsor H-1B visa and E-3 visas, particularly in commercial construction, infrastructure, and engineering consulting firms. A bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, or a related field is typically required to qualify. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help.
You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.
Are you experienced in Data Center Estimating and looking for a fast paced environment to work in? The AWS Construction Estimating team is seeking a passionate and motivated Estimator to work on a global level to provide construction cost estimates for various stages of design development phases across a portfolio of fast paced construction projects. The ideal candidate is innovative, analytical and knowledgeable of the global construction market, the core systems integral to the construction of data centers, and their associated costs. You should have a bias toward automation and a track record of creating complete estimates for construction projects. You pay attention to detail and solve problems at their root. You have experience developing cost estimates, and working with remote teams with an ability to communicate effectively with both construction and non-construction professionals. At Amazon we leverage unique opportunities presented to us and are diverse, creative, team oriented professionals working on a daily basis to develop data centers that are changing the face of data facilities.
Key job responsibilities
Success as a Sr Construction Cost Estimator is measured by:
- Establishing and monitoring overall estimating plan for assigned construction projects.
- Leading project scoping reviews with estimate requestors to define project scope and estimate deliverables.
- Use and maintenance of historical cost metrics to drive improvements in estimate accuracy.
- Utilizing tools and templates for various levels of estimates and project types including risk assessment.
- Producing estimate reports based on AWS standards.
- Analyzing and providing timely feedback of vendor proposals using AWS benchmark data.
- Validating large or complex changes with regards to cost impacts.
- Managing revision control of scope and estimate for new designs and innovations.
About the team
Our team supports data center strategic planning, new initiatives, and active builds across the globe. We are an integral part of AWS expansions in new countries and regions, ensuring budget expectations are set correctly and adequately inform business decisions.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.
Amazon values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve in the cloud.
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering
- 8+ years of construction cost management experience
- Experience communicating results to stakeholders
-
Familiar with estimating software such as CostX or equivalent
-
25% - 50% international travel, sometimes unplanned
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Structural, Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
- Experience ability to understand and devise new models that work
- Proficient with estimating software such as CostX or equivalent
- General Contractor estimating experience with Data Center or other mission critical construction environments
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, VA, Herndon
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: 139,300.00 - 208,000.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help.
You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.
Are you experienced in Data Center Estimating and looking for a fast paced environment to work in? The AWS Construction Estimating team is seeking a passionate and motivated Estimator to work on a global level to provide construction cost estimates for various stages of design development phases across a portfolio of fast paced construction projects. The ideal candidate is innovative, analytical and knowledgeable of the global construction market, the core systems integral to the construction of data centers, and their associated costs. You should have a bias toward automation and a track record of creating complete estimates for construction projects. You pay attention to detail and solve problems at their root. You have experience developing cost estimates, and working with remote teams with an ability to communicate effectively with both construction and non-construction professionals. At Amazon we leverage unique opportunities presented to us and are diverse, creative, team oriented professionals working on a daily basis to develop data centers that are changing the face of data facilities.
Key job responsibilities
Success as a Sr Construction Cost Estimator is measured by:
- Establishing and monitoring overall estimating plan for assigned construction projects.
- Leading project scoping reviews with estimate requestors to define project scope and estimate deliverables.
- Use and maintenance of historical cost metrics to drive improvements in estimate accuracy.
- Utilizing tools and templates for various levels of estimates and project types including risk assessment.
- Producing estimate reports based on AWS standards.
- Analyzing and providing timely feedback of vendor proposals using AWS benchmark data.
- Validating large or complex changes with regards to cost impacts.
- Managing revision control of scope and estimate for new designs and innovations.
About the team
Our team supports data center strategic planning, new initiatives, and active builds across the globe. We are an integral part of AWS expansions in new countries and regions, ensuring budget expectations are set correctly and adequately inform business decisions.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.
Amazon values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve in the cloud.
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering
- 8+ years of construction cost management experience
- Experience communicating results to stakeholders
-
Familiar with estimating software such as CostX or equivalent
-
25% - 50% international travel, sometimes unplanned
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Structural, Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
- Experience ability to understand and devise new models that work
- Proficient with estimating software such as CostX or equivalent
- General Contractor estimating experience with Data Center or other mission critical construction environments
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, VA, Herndon
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: 139,300.00 - 208,000.00 USD annually
See all 209+ Construction Cost Estimator Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Construction Cost Estimator Jobs
Target engineering and construction consulting firms first
Large engineering consultancies and general contractors with federal or infrastructure project portfolios sponsor work visas most consistently. They have established HR and legal processes, making them more likely to navigate H-1B or E-3 paperwork without friction.
Highlight software proficiency prominently on your resume
Employers sponsoring visas for estimators expect fluency in tools like Bluebeam, PlanSwift, or RSMeans. Demonstrating advanced software skills strengthens your case as a specialty occupation candidate, which is central to H-1B and E-3 eligibility approval.
Frame your role as a specialty occupation clearly
USCIS scrutinizes whether cost estimating requires a specific bachelor's degree. Lead with your construction management or engineering degree and connect it directly to your estimating work to avoid requests for evidence challenging your specialty occupation classification.
Australians should prioritize the E-3 visa over H-1B
The E-3 visa has no lottery, processes in weeks rather than months, and has never exhausted its annual allocation. For Australian construction estimators, it is a far more reliable and predictable path to U.S. work authorization than the H-1B.
Get experience with public infrastructure or government projects
Estimators with federal, state, or municipal project experience are especially attractive to firms holding government contracts. These employers are accustomed to compliance-heavy processes and are generally more comfortable with visa sponsorship requirements.
Browse visa-sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate
Not all construction employers advertise willingness to sponsor visas openly. Migrate Mate filters job listings to surface employers actively open to sponsorship, saving you time and avoiding applications to companies that will decline before the process starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does construction cost estimating qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It can, but USCIS applies close scrutiny to this role. The key is demonstrating that the position normally requires a specific bachelor's degree, such as construction management, civil engineering, or quantity surveying, rather than any general degree. Estimators working on complex commercial, infrastructure, or industrial projects with a directly relevant degree tend to have stronger cases than those in more generalist roles.
Which employers are most likely to sponsor a visa for a construction cost estimator?
Large general contractors, engineering consulting firms like AECOM or WSP, and construction management companies with infrastructure or federal project portfolios sponsor work visas most frequently. Specialty subcontractors and small residential builders rarely have the legal infrastructure to manage sponsorship. On Migrate Mate, you can browse construction estimator roles specifically filtered to employers open to visa sponsorship.
Can I qualify for an E-3 visa as a construction cost estimator if I have an Australian three-year bachelor's degree?
Yes. Australian three-year bachelor's degrees are generally accepted as equivalent to U.S. four-year degrees for E-3 purposes. Your degree should be in a field directly related to cost estimating, such as construction management, civil engineering, or quantity surveying. The consular officer will assess whether your qualifications align with the specialty occupation requirement stated in your Labor Condition Application.
Is construction cost estimating a common job category in H-1B filings?
It appears in H-1B visa Labor Condition Application disclosures, though less frequently than software engineering or finance roles. The construction and engineering sector does file H-1B petitions regularly, particularly for estimators on large-scale commercial and infrastructure projects. Approval rates are reasonable when the specialty occupation nexus between the degree and the role is clearly documented by the employer's attorney.
Does a professional certification like AACE or ASPE strengthen a visa sponsorship application for this role?
Certifications from the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering or the American Society of Professional Estimators are not substitutes for a degree, but they do reinforce the professional and specialized nature of the role. When combined with a directly relevant bachelor's degree, they help employers and immigration attorneys build a stronger specialty occupation argument, particularly if USCIS issues a request for evidence.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Construction Cost Estimator jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.