Hire a Construction Estimator.
Takeoffs, pricing and tenders, ready on time.
Also called: Estimator, Quantity Takeoff Specialist, Takeoff Estimator
From AUD $6 an hourAUD $6-27.50/hr
- Construction
- Trades & home services
- Works your hours
- Philippines hub, 2 to 3 hours behind Sydney
- Month to month
- Reads drawings, specifications, addenda and tender conditionsScope review and tender set-up
- Measures quantities digitally from PDF, CAD and model-based drawingsQuantity takeoff
- Sends trade packages to subcontractors and suppliersPricing and procurement
- Produces the estimate summary, pricing schedule or bill of quantitiesTender assembly and reviewDoing
- Autodesk Takeoff
- Sage Estimating
- AutoCAD
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft 365 Copilot
Pick the level. See the price.
AUD $6an hour
Level 1 of 4, also called junior.Measures defined trades from marked-up drawings and enters subcontractor quotes into templates.
- Digital takeoff for single trades
- Populated quote comparison sheets for review
- Tender document formatting and addendum tracking
AUD $10.50an hour
Level 2 of 4, also called mid-level.Runs a whole estimate from documents to tender submission.
- Complete tender estimates with scope checklist and RFI log
- Multi-trade takeoff mapped to cost codes
- Levelled subcontractor comparisons with recommendations
AUD $16.50an hour
Level 3 of 4, also called senior.Leads tenders end to end.
- Tender estimates for complex or staged projects
- Risk and opportunity registers with priced contingency
- Design-stage cost plans and budgets
AUD $27.50an hour
Level 4 of 4, also called lead or specialist.Owns estimating standards and rate library governance and makes or recommends bid/no-bid decisions.
- Estimating procedures, templates and takeoff conventions
- Rate library governance and annual rate refresh
- Bid/no-bid criteria and pipeline forecasts
Per hour, all-in: recruiting, testing and management. Prices exclude GST.
What you hand to your Construction Estimator
Tasks
Scope review and tender set-up
- Reads drawings, specifications, addenda and tender conditions
- Logs conflicts and gaps between drawings, schedules and specifications
- Reviews site information or joins site inspections to note anything
- Sets up the estimate file with the right cost code structure
Quantity takeoff
- Measures quantities digitally from PDF, CAD and model-based drawings
- Takes off structure, envelope, internal finishes
- Proves each takeoff with an independent check before it goes into pricing
- Tracks drawing revisions and re-measure only what changed
Pricing and procurement
- Sends trade packages to subcontractors and suppliers
- Levels subcontractor quotes on an equal-scope basis
- Builds self-perform rates from labour, plant, materials
- Prices preliminaries, temporary works, provisional sums
- Refreshes the rate library after each award and each completed job
Tender assembly and review
- Produces the estimate summary, pricing schedule or bill of quantities
- Reconciles the total against similar past jobs
- Prepares value-engineering options and alternative pricing
Post-tender and change
- Supports post-tender clarifications and negotiations
- Converts the winning estimate into a project budget
- Prices variations and change orders quickly
Week one
- Grant access to document storage covering current tender documents
- Walk through two recent won estimates and one lost estimate
- Hold 30-minute intro calls with the estimating manager, a project manager
- Confirms working hours, time-zone overlap, the tender calendar
Tools
Work tools
- Bluebeam Revu
- PlanSwift
- STACK
- On-Screen Takeoff
Autodesk Takeoff
- Buildxact
- Cubit
- Databuild
- Groundplan
Sage Estimating
- ProEst
- Procore
- BuildingConnected
- RSMeans data
- Spon's Price Books
AutoCAD
Adobe Acrobat Pro
Microsoft Excel
Tested live in the tools on your job description.
Works inside your Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, under your admin settings.
- Microsoft 365Copilot
- Google WorkspaceGemini
AI
AI speeds up quotes, reports and reading specs. Your Construction Estimator checks the quantities, the prices and the compliance.
Quote and tender drafts
Cover letters, inclusions and exclusions drafted from your estimate and templates.
Spec summaries
Long specifications summarised, with every requirement checked against the document.
Site reports and RFIs
Notes and photos turned into clear reports and requests for information.
Job and trade messages
Updates to trades and customers drafted from the schedule in ServiceM8, Tradify or Procore.
Our rule: business-grade AI only, never free or personal accounts.
Prefer no AI on a task? Tell your Construction Estimator and they won't use it.See AI & automation roles
Tested before you meet them
- Digital takeoff testAll levels1.5 hrs
- Scope review and RFI writingAll levels40 min
- Rate build-up and pricing work sampleIntermediate and up1.5 hrs
- Subcontractor bid levelling exerciseIntermediate and up45 min
- Estimate review and error auditIntermediate and up45 min
- Tender-deadline pressure role-playAll levels30 min
Sample shown
84%
- Skills tested: A skills test for the role, marked by a senior
- English and comms: written English tested, spoken English checked on a call
- ID, work history and references: photo ID, past roles and two referees
From booked call to day one
Step 1: Book a demo
Tell us the role, your hours and your tools.
Step 2: Meet your shortlist
Their level and hourly price, tested before you meet.
Step 3: Pick your person
Month to month. We handle the contract, the equipment and the onboarding, and make sure it all runs.
Step 4: They start work
In your tools, within 12 to 48 hours of a successful interview.
Questions answered
An Intern Construction Estimator is AUD $6 an hour, Intermediate AUD $10.50, Expert AUD $16.50 and Specialist AUD $27.50, full time (38 hours a week). That is all-in: recruiting, testing and management, month to month. Prices exclude GST.
Scope review and tender set-up, quantity takeoff, pricing and procurement and tender assembly and review, run to your priorities. You choose what they own first.
Six practical tests, marked by a senior, including digital takeoff test, scope review and RFI writing and rate build-up and pricing work sample. You see the score before you meet.
Tell us and we replace them free, with a new shortlist of tested people to meet. Seats are month to month with 30 days' notice.
Meet the people who fit your work.
A 15‑minute call on Teams. You leave knowing the level you need and its hourly price.