Estimators who are strictly focused on new construction are required to be able to read and understand plans and specifications. They must be able to complete take-offs of plans and specifications. Take-offs are the process of separating the information needed to develop a competent bid from all of the information found in the plans and specifications. Once the information is gathered, the estimator enters the information into the company estimating system to arrive at a final price for the project.

Construction estimators do not only work on new construction projects. There are many trades that work on existing structures. Projects involving existing buildings require a different approach from new construction. Estimators complete take-offs for renovations to existing buildings by visiting those sites and gathering the needed information. They enter this information into the company estimating system to be able to develop pricing for the project.

In addition to these responsibilities, estimators must also be able to handle receiving quotes for both materials and subcontractors associated with the projects being bid. Estimators must be able to communicate effectively with vendors and subcontractors to receive accurate quotes for materials, equipment and subcontractors related to the job they are estimating. As a result, networking is a critical skill that estimators needed to develop.

Estimators are required to have strong math abilities. Bids and estimates are developed using math skills including simple arithmetic, algebra and geometry. In addition, estimators also need to be very detail oriented. Attention to detail is vital when building a career as a construction estimator. Overlooking key information is a leading cause of projects failing.

There is a lot of information to sort through when developing a construction estimate. Estimators must be able to consider multiple aspects of developing competent estimates including manufacturer requirements, building codes and insurance requirements. Building a successful career as a construction estimator requires candidates to be able to gather the information from the site and design a solution that meets the requirements of the building owner, the building code, the product manufacturer and potentially the insurance company.

Construction estimators play a vital role in construction firms whether they are focused on residential customers, commercial clients or have a book of business that includes both markets.

The foundation for both residential and commercial estimating is very similar. Both require successful estimators to be strong in math skills as well as have a very high attention to detail. Without a focus on detail, details are overlooked that can have a severe impact on the performance of the job.

Build your education through a combination of training resources and on-the-job training. Construction estimators in most trades come from the ranks of those who started out working in the field. They have learned and grown their knowledge over time which allowed them to move into the Construction Estimator position.

Gather your experiences. Experiences come from putting yourself into different situations where you can learn something new. Learn from the experiences to help you be better equipped to handle situations as they arise.

A sample career path for an estimator may be:

1. Construction laborer
2. Construction mechanic
3. Assistant estimator
4. Lead or Senior Estimator