How to hire a construction estimator in a difficult job market

TLDR

Hiring a construction estimator takes longer and requires more flexibility than most contractors expect. Clear job ads, competitive pay, practical interviews, and construction estimating software like Bolster can help you hire smarter and onboard faster.

Give Yourself Longer Than You Think You Will Need

Most construction companies have a timeline in mind for hiring a new estimator, getting them trained on construction estimating software, and lining up jobs for the crew. Most also underestimate how long this process really takes.

Estimating is one of the most complex roles in any construction company. It combines technical accuracy with sales awareness and hands on construction knowledge. Estimators need deep product understanding and real world insight into how work is done on site so they can accurately price labor and materials. It is part art, part science, and heavily experience driven, which makes it difficult to find the right candidate quickly.

Plan for the process to take longer than expected and avoid hiring someone simply to fill the seat.

Be Specific in Your Job Ads for the Construction Estimator Position

Construction estimator is a broad title in an industry with very few generalists. Most estimators specialize in a specific trade or project type and tend to stay within that niche.

If you want qualified applicants, your job ads should clearly outline your industry, project types, software stack, and expectations. Providing this information upfront helps attract the right candidates and reduces time spent interviewing people who are not a good fit.

Know the Going Rate

Offering market related compensation is critical when hiring specialized roles. Skilled construction estimators are in short supply, and competitive offers matter more than ever.

Research what other companies in your region and industry are paying and structure your offer accordingly. Strong estimators directly impact profitability by improving accuracy, reducing risk, and helping win more work, making them well worth the investment.

Be Open to Hybrid Work and Flexible Arrangements

Flexible work arrangements continue to be a major factor for many professionals. Estimating does require collaboration and occasional site visits, but much of the work can be done remotely with cloud based tools.

Offering hybrid or flexible work options can help you attract experienced estimators who may not otherwise consider your company, without sacrificing productivity or accountability.

Consider Hiring Recently Graduated Students

If experienced estimators are outside your budget, recent graduates can be a strong alternative. Fields such as construction management, engineering, architecture, and estimating programs provide a solid foundation for the role.

Reach out to technical colleges and universities with placement programs. With structured training and the right construction estimating software, junior hires can grow into highly capable estimators over time.

Or Promote from Within

Formal qualifications are helpful but not always essential. Many successful estimators have progressed from field roles or internal positions where they developed strong practical knowledge.

Promoting from within can reduce onboarding time and improve long term retention, as internal candidates already understand your processes, culture, and project types.

Use a Practical Test During Interviews

Credentials alone do not guarantee estimating ability. Practical tests reveal how candidates think and solve real world problems.

Ask candidates to perform a simple takeoff, interpret drawings, explain pricing logic, or outline how they would handle a common estimating challenge. You are evaluating reasoning and adaptability rather than perfect answers.

Be Prepared to Train Extensively

Every construction company operates differently. New estimators must learn your workflows, suppliers, production rates, pricing strategies, and estimating software.

Expect onboarding to take several months and make yourself available during this period. Let your new estimator guide the training process by identifying gaps and asking questions as they learn.

Set Them Up to Succeed

Personal spreadsheets, manual calculations, and undocumented systems are difficult to transfer to new hires. Hiring a new estimator is the ideal opportunity to modernize your estimating process.

Using construction estimating software like Bolster allows new estimators to follow standardized workflows, produce accurate quotes quickly, and reduce costly errors, without needing to master a complex custom system.

Give Them Time to Settle In

Even experienced estimators need time to adjust. They must learn how your company operates, how pricing is structured, and how estimating connects with operations and sales.

Avoid making judgments too quickly. Estimating proficiency develops over time, and patience leads to better long term results.

Bolster Makes Onboarding Estimators Easier

Training a construction estimator is a significant investment. Construction estimating software like Bolster helps shorten the learning curve by simplifying workflows and standardizing pricing.

Bolster allows new estimators to build accurate quotes in minutes and supports hybrid or remote work through its cloud based platform. If you want your next construction estimator to hit the ground running in 2026, upgrading your estimating software can make all the difference.