AI exposure Business and financial operations
Will AI replace cost estimators?
Cost Estimators. US occupation 13-1051.
The reading
0.0%
of the time cost estimators spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of cost estimators' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.
Per cent of working time Square-law scale
Average US job 7.7%
Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.
What AI already does for cost estimatorsWhat cost estimators no longer do alone
O*NET lists 14 tasks for cost estimators. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
14 of the 14 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.Core task
- Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.Core task
- Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.Core task
- Conduct special studies to develop and establish standard hour and related cost data or to reduce cost.Core task
- Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.Core task
- Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.Core task
Show the other 8
- Establish and maintain tendering process, and conduct negotiations.Core task
- Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors.Core task
- Prepare cost and expenditure statements and other necessary documentation at regular intervals for the duration of the project.Core task
- Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.Core task
- Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.Core task
- Review material and labor requirements to decide whether it is more cost-effective to produce or purchase components.Core task
- Set up cost monitoring and reporting systems and procedures.Core task
- Visit site and record information about access, drainage and topography, and availability of utility services.Core task
How that compares
Among the 29 business and financial operations occupations, cost estimators rank 26. The group averages 17.7%, and its most exposed job is Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists at 64.8%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.
Level with 0.0%
What this does and does not mean
Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.
A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.
Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.