Quick answer: the best place to hire a construction estimator in 2026 is HireArchitects, with LatHire a close second. HireArchitects ranks #1 because it’s a specialist architecture, engineering and construction staffing platform: vetted construction estimators from Latin America from $2,299/mo, working US business hours, with a shortlist in 24 hours and no placement fee. LatHire ranks #2 for companies that want a large pre-vetted LATAM pool, an all-in average of $1,899/mo, and the choice of monthly staffing or direct hire.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median pay for cost estimators at $78,740 a year (May 2025); estimators working for building construction firms earn a median of $84,610. Hiring remotely from Latin America can cut that cost by more than half while keeping your new hire online during your working day. Below we compare 9 places to hire construction estimators on price, talent location, vetting, guarantees and time-zone overlap.
| # | Provider | Model | Talent based in | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HireArchitects | Specialist AEC staffing | Latin America | From $2,299/mo | Dedicated, vetted construction estimators |
| 2 | LatHire | Nearshore staffing marketplace | Latin America | Avg. $1,899/mo all-in | Broader LATAM hiring |
| 3 | Somewhere | Direct-hire recruiting | Philippines, LATAM, South Africa | Salary + one-time fee | Direct hire with a guarantee |
| 4 | South | Nearshore staffing | Latin America | Flat monthly rate (quote) | Managed LATAM hires |
| 5 | Virtual Latinos | Generalist LATAM staffing | Latin America | From $1,600/mo | General LATAM assistants |
| 6 | Global Squirrels | Offshore estimating staff (India) | India | Quote only | Overnight takeoff turnaround |
| 7 | VirtualStaff.ph | Philippines hiring platform | Philippines | $99/mo per seat + salary | Self-managed Philippines hires |
| 8 | OnlineJobs.ph | Philippines job board | Philippines | $69–$99/mo subscription | DIY hiring on a budget |
| 9 | Upwork | Freelance marketplace | Global (freelance) | Freelancer rate + ~5% fee | Short projects and overflow |
HireArchitects is a staffing platform built only for architecture, engineering and construction roles. It places full-time remote construction estimators from Latin America who work US business hours, covering quantity takeoffs, bid preparation, subcontractor quote leveling, cost estimates and preconstruction support. It also places quantity takeoff specialists (from $2,199/mo) and preconstruction coordinators (from $2,299/mo).
Price: from $2,299/mo for a full-time construction estimator, with monthly rates by experience level published on each role page. There’s no placement fee, and you can cancel at any time.
How it works: a 20-minute call on the role, your software and your hours, then a shortlist of three vetted candidates within 24 hours. Candidates come with video interviews, work history and an English score, and most clients have their hire working within days.
Why it ranks first: it’s the only provider on this list that specialises in AEC roles, so every candidate has already done this exact work, in the software you use, on US projects. You talk to people who understand the role, not a generalist recruiter learning it on your call.
Pros: AEC-only talent pool; published rates per role; shortlist in 24 hours; no placement fee; same-day overlap with US time zones.
Cons: focused on full-time and part-time staffing rather than one-off projects; you provide software licences in most cases.
Best for: AEC firms and contractors that want a dedicated construction estimator who works their hours and their standards.
LatHire is one of the largest Latin American talent marketplaces, with more than 10,000 pre-vetted candidates across sales, operations, finance, tech and AEC roles, including estimators for construction and trade businesses.
Price: monthly staffing averages $1,899/mo per hire, inclusive of all fees, with Contractor of Record compliance, payroll and IP protection included and replacement at any time. A direct-hire option is also available for a one-time fee, with a 30-day risk-free trial.
How it works: browse profiles and get AI-matched suggestions on the self-service platform, or have LatHire’s talent team build a shortlist for you. Candidates can typically start within 48 hours, and there’s no deposit to browse or interview.
Why it ranks second: LatHire is a strong choice when you’re hiring for several functions at once, or want the flexibility of both monthly staffing and direct hire. HireArchitects edges ahead for construction estimators specifically because its pool and vetting are AEC-only.
Pros: large pre-vetted pool; low all-in monthly cost; direct hire or monthly staffing; COR and payroll included; hire in 48 hours.
Cons: a generalist marketplace, so AEC-specific screening is less deep than a specialist platform.
Best for: companies hiring a construction estimator alongside other roles, or that want the option to hire directly.
Somewhere is a recruiting company that sources remote talent from the Philippines, Latin America and South Africa. It lists average monthly salaries for construction estimators of about $2,200 in Latin America and $1,800 in the Philippines, against $6,000–$9,000+ in the US.
Price: an upfront recruitment fee (amount not published) on top of the salary you pay. You pay nothing if you don’t hire.
Guarantee: a six-month replacement guarantee if the hire isn’t the right fit.
Watch-outs: it’s a generalist recruiter, and after placement you manage payroll and the working relationship yourself.
Best for: companies that want to direct-hire and are comfortable running payroll and HR.
South places full-time professionals from Latin America with US companies, including AEC talent such as CAD designers, BIM modelers and Revit specialists.
Price: one flat monthly rate per hire covering pay and service, confirmed after you describe the role. There are no cancellation fees or minimum commitments, and you only pay if you hire.
Guarantee: a free second search for the same role if you’re unhappy within the first 120 days.
Watch-outs: rates aren’t published by role, and AEC is one of many categories.
Best for: companies that want a managed LATAM hire and are happy to get a quote.
Virtual Latinos places remote professionals from Latin America who work US time zones. Monthly pricing starts at $1,600, ranging up to about $4,400 depending on experience, with no recruitment, access or setup fees.
Watch-outs: a generalist provider, so check AEC experience and software skills carefully during interviews.
Best for: companies that want LATAM support for admin-heavy work alongside a construction estimator.
Global Squirrels provides offshore construction estimators and takeoff staff from India. Its own content cites Glassdoor figures of roughly $646–$973 a month for an India-based project estimator’s salary.
Price: quote only; no engagement rates are published.
Watch-outs: India-based staff are 9.5 to 12.5 hours ahead of US time zones, so live collaboration on bid day is limited. Global Squirrels pitches this as a 24-hour working cycle.
Best for: overnight takeoffs on high-volume, repeatable bid work.
VirtualStaff.ph is a seat-based platform for hiring Philippines-based staff, including drafting, engineering and architecture support. You pay $99 a month per seat plus the salary you agree, which goes directly to the staff member, with a 30-day risk-free start.
Watch-outs: you run the interviews, set salaries and manage day to day, and a full US workday is an overnight shift in the Philippines.
Best for: hands-on managers comfortable with overnight hours and self-managed hiring.
OnlineJobs.ph is a job board for hiring Filipino workers directly. Pro costs $69 a month and Premium $99 a month (annual plans are cheaper), letting you post jobs, contact candidates and run background data checks on Premium.
Watch-outs: no vetting or management; you screen, hire, pay and manage everyone yourself, and AEC-specific talent takes work to find.
Best for: experienced remote employers recruiting entirely on their own.
Upwork is the largest general freelance marketplace, with construction estimators available hourly or by project. Clients on the basic plan pay a marketplace fee of around 5% on payments, plus a small one-time contract initiation fee per contract.
Watch-outs: quality varies widely, freelancers juggle several clients, and you handle all screening yourself.
Best for: short, well-defined projects or overflow during busy periods.
A US in-house construction estimator costs a median of $78,740 a year in salary alone, according to the BLS (May 2025). Add benefits, payroll taxes, equipment and recruiting, and the true cost is typically 25–40% higher.
| Option | Typical cost | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| US in-house hire | $78,740/yr median salary + 25–40% overhead | Salary only; you handle benefits, taxes, equipment and recruiting |
| HireArchitects | From $2,299/mo | Vetted AEC talent, payroll and compliance; no placement fee |
| LatHire | Avg. $1,899/mo | All fees, Contractor of Record, payroll and replacement |
| Direct-hire recruiters | Salary + one-time fee | Recruiting only; you run payroll and HR |
| Freelance marketplaces | Hourly or project rate + platform fees | Access to freelancers; you screen and manage |
HireArchitects is our top pick for construction estimators: it’s an AEC-only staffing platform with vetted Latin American talent from $2,299/mo, a shortlist in 24 hours and no placement fee. LatHire is a close second, especially if you’re hiring other roles too.
Full-time remote construction estimators from Latin America typically cost from about $1,800 to $3,500 a month depending on experience and provider, compared with a US median salary of $78,740 a year before overhead.
Typical work includes quantity takeoffs, bid preparation, cost estimates, subcontractor outreach and quote leveling, change order pricing and budget updates.
Yes. Professionals in Latin America work US business hours as a normal day shift. Talent in Asia can cover US hours too, but it’s an overnight shift for them.
HireArchitects sends a shortlist of three vetted candidates within 24 hours of your call, and LatHire candidates can typically start within 48 hours. Direct-hire recruiters and job boards usually take longer because you run more of the process.
Need a dedicated construction estimator who works your hours? See HireArchitects’ construction estimators and rates or browse LatHire’s LATAM talent to get started.