NOC 22303: Construction estimators
What construction estimators do
Construction estimators analyze costs of and prepare estimates on civil engineering, architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical construction projects. They are employed by residential, commercial and industrial construction companies and major electrical, mechanical and trade contractors, or they may be self-employed.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare estimates of probable costs of materials, labour and equipment for construction projects based on contract bids, quotations, schematic drawings and specifications
- Advise on tendering procedures, examine and analyze tenders, recommend tender awards and conduct negotiations
- Establish and maintain tendering process and set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures
- Prepare cost and expenditure statements and forecasts at regular intervals for the duration of a project
- Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors
- Liaise, consult and communicate with engineers, architects, owners, contractors and subcontractors, and prepare economic feasibility studies on changes and adjustments to cost estimates
- Manage and coordinate construction projects and prepare construction progress schedules.
- Estimators may specialize in estimating costs for structural, electrical or mechanical construction projects.
Job titles under NOC 22303
20 job titles are classified here, including chief estimator - construction, construction estimator, cost estimator - construction.
- building construction estimator
- certified construction estimator
- chief estimator - construction
- construction cost consultant
- construction cost estimator
- construction estimator
- contractors estimator
- cost estimator - construction
- electrical and mechanical quantity surveyor
- electrical estimator - construction
- junior estimator - construction
- mechanical estimator - construction
- plumbing estimator - construction
- principal estimator - construction
- professional estimator - construction
- professional quantity surveyor
- quantity surveyor - construction
- quantity surveyor-estimator
- senior estimator - construction
- trade contractor estimator - construction
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- Completion of a three-year college program in civil or construction engineering technology or Several years of experience as a qualified tradesperson in a construction trade such as plumbing, carpentry or electrical, are required.
- Certification by the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors is usually required.
Construction estimators wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $24.04/hr | $37.84/hr | $61.54/hr |
Toronto ON | $24.00/hr | $38.46/hr | $61.54/hr |
Montréal QC | $25.00/hr | $33.50/hr | $48.00/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $26.93/hr | $40.40/hr | $58.29/hr |
Calgary AB | $28.85/hr | $40.87/hr | $88.89/hr |
Edmonton AB | $28.85/hr | $42.00/hr | $100.00/hr |
Ottawa ON | $24.60/hr | $36.61/hr | $50.98/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $23.55/hr | $32.50/hr | $55.29/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $25.00/hr | $33.50/hr | $48.00/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $25.56/hr | $37.98/hr | $56.13/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $29.23/hr | $36.06/hr | $61.54/hr |
London ON | $24.59/hr | $36.31/hr | $51.43/hr |
Halifax NS | $34.62/hr | $39.56/hr | $53.37/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $27.90/hr | $42.26/hr | $56.92/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $28.40/hr | $39.99/hr | $54.03/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $26.65/hr | $38.28/hr | $51.57/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $23.67/hr | $38.98/hr | $54.48/hr |
Nova Scotia | $34.62/hr | $39.56/hr | $53.37/hr |
New Brunswick | $22.00/hr | $33.65/hr | $48.08/hr |
Quebec | $25.00/hr | $33.50/hr | $48.00/hr |
Ontario | $24.00/hr | $38.46/hr | $61.54/hr |
Manitoba | $23.55/hr | $32.50/hr | $55.29/hr |
Saskatchewan | $25.92/hr | $38.54/hr | $56.23/hr |
Alberta | $28.85/hr | $40.87/hr | $88.89/hr |
British Columbia | $26.44/hr | $40.24/hr | $77.78/hr |
Using NOC 22303 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 20 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Architectural technologists and technicians (NOC 22210)
- Civil engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 22300)
- Civil engineers (NOC 21300)
- Construction managers (NOC 70010)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for construction estimators?
Construction estimators are NOC 2021 unit group 22303. Example job titles in this group include chief estimator - construction, construction estimator, cost estimator - construction, principal estimator - construction.
What TEER is NOC 22303?
NOC 22303 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do construction estimators earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $37.84/hr, about $74,000 a year full-time, with a range of $24.04/hr to $61.54/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.