NOC 22303: Construction estimators

Construction estimators analyze costs of and prepare estimates on civil engineering, architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical construction projects. They are employed by residential, commercial and industrial construction companies and major electrical, mechanical and trade contractors, or they may be self-employed.

Express Entry eligibility

• Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 2.
• Canadian Experience Class: counts as skilled Canadian work (1 year in the last 3 years).
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: counts as skilled work (1 year of continuous work in the last 10 years).
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: not one of the eligible trades.
• High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): no. No high-wage add-on, and a job offer in it earns no CRS points.

TEER 2: Occupations that usually need a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or supervisory duties. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

• Trade occupations

  At least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in this occupation within the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 22303

Skilled Canadian work in this occupation earns the standard points, the same before and after November 3, 2026, with no high-wage add-on:

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Prepare estimates of probable costs of materials, labour and equipment for construction projects based on contract bids, quotations, schematic drawings and specifications
• Advise on tendering procedures, examine and analyze tenders, recommend tender awards and conduct negotiations
• Establish and maintain tendering process and set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures
• Prepare cost and expenditure statements and forecasts at regular intervals for the duration of a project
• Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors
• Liaise, consult and communicate with engineers, architects, owners, contractors and subcontractors, and prepare economic feasibility studies on changes and adjustments to cost estimates
• Manage and coordinate construction projects and prepare construction progress schedules.
• Estimators may specialize in estimating costs for structural, electrical or mechanical construction projects.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

• chief estimator - construction
• construction estimator
• cost estimator - construction
• principal estimator - construction
• professional quantity surveyor
• quantity surveyor - construction

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• Completion of a three-year college program in civil or construction engineering technology or Several years of experience as a qualified tradesperson in a construction trade such as plumbing, carpentry or electrical, are required.
• Certification by the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors is usually required.

Similar jobs with a different code

• 22210Architectural technologists and technicians
• 22300Civil engineering technologists and technicians
• 21300Civil engineers
• 70010Construction managers