a.k.a. Bid Specialist, Proposal Specialist, Project Estimator

The Estimator

Turns scope into accurate pricing and a plan the field can execute.

The seat at a glance

Department

Sales

Works from

Hybrid

Pay

$50k-90k

In the software

daily

Who they are

Half-desk, half-truck, the estimator.

Turns scope into accurate pricing and a plan the field can execute.

Software relationship: daily

Goals · what “good” looks like

  • ▸Actual job cost within 5% of estimate
  • ▸Fewer change-order surprises
  • ▸Estimates returned within 48 hours
Also called
Bid SpecialistProposal SpecialistProject Estimator
Departmentin the org chart
Setting
Hybrid
splits time

What they own · where they slip

The job, frankly.

Core duties

what’s on their plate every week

✓
Gather scope details through takeoffs and site visits
✓
Build accurate estimates with materials, labor, margin
✓
Document exclusions and assumptions
✓
Coordinate measurement with field team
✓
Update estimates when scope changes

Where they trip

watch for these, they’re common

✗Underestimating labor on complex jobs
✗Not documenting exclusions clearly
✗Using stale material pricing

What makes them a champion

Build an estimate from a template that auto-pulls current pricing and labor rates.
what the estimator says the first time the dashboard finally clicks.

Keep exploring

Other roles in the catalog.