Senior Cost Estimator Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Senior Cost Estimators are regularly sponsored for H-1B visa and TN visas, with employers in construction, engineering, and defense contracting among the most active sponsors. Roles typically require a bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, or a related field. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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We are looking for an outstanding Lead Project Cost Estimator to lead and supervise a team of Estimators assigned by our client, Los Angeles Unified School District with an extensive knowledge and experience in developing conceptual and Pre-construction cost estimates for complex school building projects. The lead Project Cost Estimator with the ability to prepare cost estimates quickly in a fast-paced working environment will have extensive experience in developing and estimating the scope of work for change orders, ability to compare the independent cost estimate with contractor proposal to quickly identify differences with a good oral and written communication skills.
Daily Duties
- Plan, supervise, and participate in the preparation of construction cost estimates of buildings or other structures from drawings, outlines, and specifications.
- Prepare and review cost estimates and forms and other materials submitted to secure state and/or federal grants and loans from school aid programs and represents the District on matters pertinent to securing such funds.
- Check construction cost estimates submitted by commissioned architects and engineers for accuracy and completeness and compares them with District estimates.
- Confer with commissioned architects and engineers to resolve differences in their cost estimates and District estimates for each project and negotiates agreements on preliminary estimates of construction costs.
- Make studies and prepares reports when contractors' bids vary widely from the agreed construction cost estimate.
- Check segregation of contract costs as estimated by building contractors and recommends acceptance or rejection as a basis for progress payments.
- Analyze change orders on construction work under contract and approves or rejects extras or credits submitted.
- Prepare or review cost estimates for projects.
- Establish and maintain procedures for approval of plans and specifications for building projects and submission of approved projects to public bidding.
- Develop methods for maintaining data used in records, charts and graphs reflecting estimated construction costs compared with actual costs.
- Conduct and participates in seminars and workshops with staff and minority contractors relative to school construction bidding procedures, contracts, and cost estimating.
- Estimate costs of damages to District property caused by fire, natural disasters, and major acts of vandalism.
- Establish budgets for school building projects.
- Assists other branches with related functions.
- Prepare preliminary and final independent cost estimates of projects for comparison with designer or contractor for PM/CM to establish a negotiating position.
- Prepare change order estimates for Owner Authorized Representatives to establish a negotiating position.
- Ability to develop the scope of work based on RFI/ RFC answers and estimates the detailed costs of those scopes of work independent of the contractor proposal.
- Provide support in price negotiations.
- Prepare claim analyses and estimates.
- Review contractor's claims and proposals for merit and accountability.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Graduation from a recognized college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
- 15 years full time paid professional experience in quantity surveying and the preparation of Pre-construction and cost estimates for type I, II, or III, and V building construction as defined by the State building code, including three years in a supervisory capacity.
- Knowledge of current local construction labor and material costs.
Featured Benefits
401(k), Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, 100% employer-paid premiums
Additional Information
For over 50 years, Leland Saylor Associates (LSA) has been a nationally recognized construction consulting firm providing expertise in the areas of estimating, scheduling, value engineering, and construction management. Saylor is a great place to work where your opinion matters, where you can grow with a supportive staff and make a difference in our project outcomes. We are proud to be an advisor on some of the largest, most technically complex projects in the nation. We seek like-minded professionals who have a passion for estimating, drive to achieve results, creative problem-solving ability, and a dedication to client service and relationship management. 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. Come join us and partner with our world-class team and do your best work. Saylor 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.
Job Description
We are looking for an outstanding Lead Project Cost Estimator to lead and supervise a team of Estimators assigned by our client, Los Angeles Unified School District with an extensive knowledge and experience in developing conceptual and Pre-construction cost estimates for complex school building projects. The lead Project Cost Estimator with the ability to prepare cost estimates quickly in a fast-paced working environment will have extensive experience in developing and estimating the scope of work for change orders, ability to compare the independent cost estimate with contractor proposal to quickly identify differences with a good oral and written communication skills.
Daily Duties
- Plan, supervise, and participate in the preparation of construction cost estimates of buildings or other structures from drawings, outlines, and specifications.
- Prepare and review cost estimates and forms and other materials submitted to secure state and/or federal grants and loans from school aid programs and represents the District on matters pertinent to securing such funds.
- Check construction cost estimates submitted by commissioned architects and engineers for accuracy and completeness and compares them with District estimates.
- Confer with commissioned architects and engineers to resolve differences in their cost estimates and District estimates for each project and negotiates agreements on preliminary estimates of construction costs.
- Make studies and prepares reports when contractors' bids vary widely from the agreed construction cost estimate.
- Check segregation of contract costs as estimated by building contractors and recommends acceptance or rejection as a basis for progress payments.
- Analyze change orders on construction work under contract and approves or rejects extras or credits submitted.
- Prepare or review cost estimates for projects.
- Establish and maintain procedures for approval of plans and specifications for building projects and submission of approved projects to public bidding.
- Develop methods for maintaining data used in records, charts and graphs reflecting estimated construction costs compared with actual costs.
- Conduct and participates in seminars and workshops with staff and minority contractors relative to school construction bidding procedures, contracts, and cost estimating.
- Estimate costs of damages to District property caused by fire, natural disasters, and major acts of vandalism.
- Establish budgets for school building projects.
- Assists other branches with related functions.
- Prepare preliminary and final independent cost estimates of projects for comparison with designer or contractor for PM/CM to establish a negotiating position.
- Prepare change order estimates for Owner Authorized Representatives to establish a negotiating position.
- Ability to develop the scope of work based on RFI/ RFC answers and estimates the detailed costs of those scopes of work independent of the contractor proposal.
- Provide support in price negotiations.
- Prepare claim analyses and estimates.
- Review contractor's claims and proposals for merit and accountability.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Graduation from a recognized college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
- 15 years full time paid professional experience in quantity surveying and the preparation of Pre-construction and cost estimates for type I, II, or III, and V building construction as defined by the State building code, including three years in a supervisory capacity.
- Knowledge of current local construction labor and material costs.
Featured Benefits
401(k), Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, 100% employer-paid premiums
Additional Information
For over 50 years, Leland Saylor Associates (LSA) has been a nationally recognized construction consulting firm providing expertise in the areas of estimating, scheduling, value engineering, and construction management. Saylor is a great place to work where your opinion matters, where you can grow with a supportive staff and make a difference in our project outcomes. We are proud to be an advisor on some of the largest, most technically complex projects in the nation. We seek like-minded professionals who have a passion for estimating, drive to achieve results, creative problem-solving ability, and a dedication to client service and relationship management. 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. Come join us and partner with our world-class team and do your best work. Saylor 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.
See all 760+ Senior Cost Estimator Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Senior Cost Estimator Jobs
Target employers with active LCA filings
Large engineering and construction firms file Labor Condition Applications publicly. Searching OFLC disclosure data for 'cost estimator' filings shows which employers have actively sponsored this role, giving you a concrete list of companies worth pursuing.
Emphasize your degree-to-role alignment
H-1B specialty occupation approval depends on a direct link between your degree field and the role. A degree in construction management, civil engineering, or quantity surveying strengthens your petition significantly more than a general business or unrelated degree.
Highlight software proficiency in your application
Employers sponsoring cost estimators expect proficiency in tools like Bluebeam, Sage Estimating, or Primavera. Listing specific software in your resume signals the specialized knowledge that supports a specialty occupation argument during the H-1B petition.
Consider TN status if you hold Canadian or Mexican citizenship
Cost estimators with an engineering or quantity surveying background may qualify for TN status, which avoids the H-1B lottery entirely. Confirm your specific job duties and degree align with a qualifying TN profession category before proceeding.
Prepare a detailed duties letter from your employer
USCIS scrutinizes cost estimator petitions more closely when job duties appear generalist. A detailed support letter from your employer describing project complexity, technical methodologies, and required specialized knowledge strengthens the specialty occupation argument considerably.
Browse sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters job listings by visa sponsorship availability, so you're not guessing which employers will support an application. Searching for senior cost estimator roles there surfaces employers already willing to engage with the sponsorship process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Cost Estimator role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
It can, but it's not automatic. USCIS requires that the role normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. Senior Cost Estimator positions tied to engineering, construction management, or quantity surveying typically qualify. Roles described more broadly, where any degree satisfies the requirement, face higher denial risk. A strong job duties letter and employer support matter considerably here.
Which industries most commonly sponsor Senior Cost Estimators?
Defense contracting, heavy civil construction, oil and gas, and large-scale infrastructure firms are the most consistent sponsors. Companies like Bechtel, Parsons, Jacobs, and Fluor appear regularly in OFLC LCA filings for cost estimator roles. Government contractors often sponsor because the specialized knowledge required for federal project bidding is difficult to replace quickly. You can browse verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate.
Does my degree need to be in a specific field for H-1B sponsorship as a Cost Estimator?
Yes. The H-1B visa petition requires your degree to directly relate to the job duties. Construction management, civil or structural engineering, architecture, or quantity surveying are the strongest matches. A general business or unrelated degree creates a specialty occupation problem that an immigration attorney may need to address through a combination of education and progressive work experience.
What are the approval rates for H-1B petitions filed for Cost Estimators?
USCIS doesn't publish approval rates broken down by job title. Anecdotally, cost estimator petitions in construction and engineering contexts have reasonable approval rates when the specialty occupation argument is well-documented. Petitions for roles framed as general project management or procurement, rather than technical estimating requiring a specific degree, receive more Requests for Evidence and higher denial rates.
Can I switch employers on an H-1B as a Senior Cost Estimator?
Yes. H-1B portability allows you to start working for a new employer as soon as they file a new H-1B petition on your behalf, as long as your current status is valid and you've been lawfully employed for at least 180 days since your most recent approval. The new employer needs to file their own I-129 and LCA before your first day. There's no need to wait for USCIS approval to begin work.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Senior 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.