Use the contractor's own loaded employment cost for a business case. Published salaries are useful cross-checks, but annual pay is not a consulting rate or the cash saved by freeing an hour.
| Observation | Evidence date and scope | Use in a budget |
|---|---|---|
| $78,740 annual median for cost estimators; $80,330 in specialty trade contractors | BLS, May 2025 wages; broader occupations and employers | Context for estimating labour, not a local HVAC salary survey |
| $80,000–$90,000/year advertised for a mechanical and plumbing estimator in Dansville, New York | LMC employer advert, checked 20 October 2026; posting date not shown | One disclosed employer range, not proof of a market-wide band or current vacancy |
Retain recruitment, benefits, training and management effort as separate inputs. Neither source establishes what a 10–200-person contractor would pay an automation specialist.
Sources cited on this page
- BLSbls.gov
- LMC employer advertjobs.ourcareerpages.com