1

Project Cost Manager Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Senior Cost Manager

Denver, CO · On-site

$105K - $140K/yr

The Senior Cost Manager should have the ability to identify opportunities within a project that will add value and help successfully accomplish the client's desired project outcome. Truth. Trust.

Showing results 21-40

Project Cost Manager information

See Colorado salary details

$41K

$112.5K

$154.6K

How much do project cost manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for project cost manager in Colorado is $112,519.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,200.00 and $127,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a project cost manager do?

A Project Cost Manager is responsible for overseeing and controlling the budget and costs associated with a construction or development project. Their main duties include estimating project costs, preparing budgets, monitoring expenses, and ensuring that the project remains within financial constraints. They work closely with project managers, engineers, and contractors to analyze costs, identify potential savings, and report on financial progress. By managing resources efficiently, they help prevent cost overruns and contribute to the overall success of the project.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a project cost manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Project Cost Manager, you need strong analytical skills, a background in finance or quantity surveying, and typically a relevant degree or professional certification such as RICS or AACE. Familiarity with cost estimating software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and project management tools like MS Project or Primavera is common. Excellent communication, negotiation, and attention to detail help build trust and ensure accurate reporting. These skills are crucial to control budgets, minimize financial risks, and deliver projects on time and within scope.

What are some common challenges faced by project cost managers when working on large-scale construction projects?

Project Cost Managers often encounter challenges such as managing budget overruns due to unexpected site conditions, fluctuating material costs, and changes in project scope. Coordinating with multiple stakeholders—like architects, engineers, and contractors—requires strong communication and negotiation skills to ensure costs remain within agreed limits. Maintaining up-to-date cost forecasts and reporting can be demanding, especially when timelines are tight and project details evolve rapidly. Successfully navigating these challenges is key to ensuring a project's financial health and client satisfaction.

What cities in Colorado are hiring for Project Cost Manager jobs?

Cities in Colorado with the most Project Cost Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Project Cost Manager job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,519 per year, or $54.1 per hour.

Senior Cost Manager

Denver, CO • On-site

Rider Levett Bucknall
501 - 1,000 employees

$105K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

Title: Senior Cost Manager
Reporting to: Office Director
Salary Range: $105,500 - $140,500
Overview of Role
The Senior Cost Manager is responsible for managing project costs across all stages of construction, ensuring effective cost control, accurate reporting, and strong client collaboration. The successful candidate will bring solid experience in construction cost management and the ability to lead cost planning and commercial activities on a range of project types. The Senior Cost Manager should have the ability to identify opportunities within a project that will add value and help successfully accomplish the client's 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.
RLB is an award-winning international firm, known for providing property and construction consultancy advice at all stages of the construction cycle. Utilizing its many years of experience and professionally trained employees, RLB continues to firmly establish itself as one of the major players in the construction industry throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania. Our employees are involved in a variety of projects across a range of sectors, from sports arenas and healthcare to higher education and convention centers.
As a privately held company, we hire the best people, give them exceptional training, and provide extensive opportunities for professional growth while working on exciting projects while providing an excellent compensation and benefits package.
Essential Functions
• Prepare and manage detailed quantity take-offs and cost estimates based on drawings and specifications.
• Review construction plans and specifications during preconstruction to complete quantity take-offs and prepare estimates for all architectural, structural, and civil scopes from schematic through final design for new construction and renovation projects
• Prepare value engineering, cost option and cost strategy estimates
• Prepare independent post contract estimates, including reporting differences in scope, quantities, and pricing from contractor's estimate
• Work as integral part of our Estimating Team to perform plan and specification analysis, takeoff, and pricing of various types of construction projects
• Acts as lead individual for specific projects
• Review estimates prepared by Estimating Team, prior to supervisor final review
• Compiles and analyzes data on all factors that influence costs, such as material, labor, equipment, and profit margins
• Evaluates cost estimating deliverables prepared by architects and engineers, for cost containment
• Acquires and evaluates historical and vendor cost data for the development of cost estimates and price recommendations
• Accurately forecasts costs of future projects and changes to existing projects
• Prepares technical evaluations, cost estimating draft reports, memos, and letters and presents recommendations to management and client
• Attend client meetings
• Participate in design charrettes and design workshops, including presenting estimates to the client and AE team
• Participate in Value Engineering studies, reconciliations, and negotiations with contractors
• Prepare valuations of work in progress reports from contractor draw requests
• Undertake other cost-related tasks as directed by supervisor, including review of estimates prepared by others
• Assist with training and mentoring others
• 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.
• Minimum Education (or substitute experience) required: 4-year college degree in Construction Management, Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Cost Estimating or equivalent recognized technical qualification.
• Minimum Experience required: 5-10 years' relevant experience in construction cost estimating of a variety of building types from program, conceptual, schematic, design development and construction document stages of design in elemental and CSI format for all architectural, structural, and civil components of new construction and renovation projects. Some MEP estimating experience preferred. AACE International and/or Certified Cost Professional preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of execution of cost management services; good planning, organization, and communication skills essential. Understanding of technical and non-technical documents related to cost management services required. Knowledge and use of industry-estimating software and Microsoft Office software programs.
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.
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.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.