Demo

MEP Cost Estimator

Rider Levett Bucknall RLB
Chicago, IL Full Time
POSTED ON 9/30/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 10/30/2025
Title: MEP Cost Estimator

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reporting to: Office Director

Salary Range: $62,200 - $98,500

Overview Of Role

The MEP Cost Estimator will take the project and pull the necessary components together and establish, in an accurate manner, the anticipated cost of the MEP portions of the project.

This position is responsible for coordinating the mechanical, plumbing, fire protection and electrical aspects of the project with other disciplines to assure complete scope coverage. The ideal candidate should have experience in cost estimating, quantity surveying and/or construction management. The MEP Cost Estimator should have the ability to identify opportunities within a project that will add value and help successfully accomplish the clients desired project outcome.

Truth. Trust. Together. Tomorrow.

At RLB, we speak the truth, build for the long term, look out for each other and work to do good. We are driven by outcomes, creating tailored solutions that deliver successful projects. We believe that when we bring together the right people doing things the right way, we make progress for our clients and our communities.

Essential Functions

  • Preparation of construction related cost estimates, cost plans, and cost strategies.
  • Reviews drawings and specifications to determine scope and quantities to calculate pricing.
  • Communicates, solicits, and interacts with sub-contractors in various trades to obtain pricing for projects.
  • Determines quantities of materials in various trades by using estimating department software.
  • Change order reviews and valuations of work in progress and bid analyses.
  • Preparation of studies and plans on value engineering, life cycle costing, and sustainable practices.
  • Attends pre-bid meetings and site visits to assess the conditions of the site or existing building, as necessary.
  • Solicits and receives MEP bids, reviewing for scopes of work and pricing for completeness.
  • Communicates with bidders for final overview and assures completeness of bid prior to inclusion in an estimate, bid or guaranteed maximum price (GMP).
  • Reviews drawings and specifications for MEP assigned portions of Preconstruction.
  • Projects to calculate budgets from schematic through final construction documents as assigned.
  • Communicates with team members, bid captains, estimating manager and others as required, convening scopes, pricing, construction details, etc.
  • Prices work as required to budget for MEP trades.
  • Provides complete estimates on MEP trades.
  • Develops strategies to pursue, estimate and win competitive bids.
  • Develops and establishes ability to budget MEP work without 100% of documentation to the point of developing ability to conceptually budget, visualize and plan a project.
  • Contributes to team performance by collaboration and effective communication.
  • Contributes to and understands the clients desired project outcomes, identifies opportunities to add value to accomplish the desired outcomes.
  • Adds to team effort by accomplishing other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a positive proactive approach to the role, and will be committed to delivering customer service excellence, with good commercial results.

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, or related field is required
  • Recent experience and specialty in electrical and mechanical cost strategies
  • Cost control in the commercial/institutional/Industrial sector concentrating on vertical construction
  • Experience with conceptual and detailed measurement / pricing
  • Experience in CMGC / GCCM process
  • Experience with estimating software systems, onscreen takeoff software and BIM
  • Professional certifications preferred

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

  • Indoor office environment. May require work on site location when necessary.
  • Equipment used includes computers and standard office machines.
  • Essential physical tasks include: the ability to work on a computer and the ability to answer and speak on a telephone.

General Benefits information can be found on the RLB Careers Page: Construction Management Jobs | RLB Americas

RLB is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices based on race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above listed items.

Salary : $62,200 - $98,500

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a MEP Cost Estimator?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the MEP Cost Estimator career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$81,938 - $107,157
Income Estimation: 
$115,710 - $158,065
Income Estimation: 
$77,882 - $103,228
Income Estimation: 
$96,048 - $128,795
Income Estimation: 
$96,048 - $128,795
Income Estimation: 
$126,948 - $164,474
Income Estimation: 
$136,774 - $186,788
Income Estimation: 
$173,782 - $226,667
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Rider Levett Bucknall RLB

Rider Levett Bucknall RLB
Hired Organization Address Phoenix, AZ Full Time
Title: Senior Civil Cost Manager Reporting to: Office Director Overview Of Role The Senior Cost Manager is responsible f...
Rider Levett Bucknall RLB
Hired Organization Address Boston, MA Full Time
Title: Cost Manager Reporting to: Office Director Salary Range: $82,000 - $107,500 Overview Of Role The Cost Manager pro...
Rider Levett Bucknall RLB
Hired Organization Address Boston, MA Full Time
Title: Senior Cost Manager Reporting to: Office Director Salary Range: $108.985.50 - $181,307.16 Overview Of Role The Se...
Rider Levett Bucknall RLB
Hired Organization Address Miami, FL Full Time
Title: Cost Manager Reporting to: Office Director Overview Of Role The Cost Manager provides cost management services in...

Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other MEP Cost Estimator jobs in the Chicago, IL area that may be a better fit.

Senior MEP Cost Manager

Rider Levett Bucknall RLB, Chicago, IL

Cost Estimator (Various Levels)

Parametrix, Ridge, IL

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!