Civil engineers
SOC Code: 17-2051Also known as:
Airport Engineer, Architectural Engineer, Asphalt Engineer, Base Engineer, Bridge Design Engineer
Median Annual Salary
$99,590
+5.0% growth (2024-2034)
24K
Openings/Year
369K
Current Jobs
What Civil engineers Do
Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.
💰 Salary
$99,590
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+5.0%
Faster than average
🎓 Education
Bachelor's degree
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
24K
Projected average per year
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
368,900
Projected Employment (2034)
387,500
Related Careers
Natural sciences managers
$161,180 •
+3.7% growth
Civil engineers
$99,590 •
+5.0% growth
Civil engineering technologists and technicians
$64,200 •
+2.1% growth
Social scientists and related workers, all other
$100,340 •
-1.7% growth
Top Skills Required
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
- Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
- Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
- Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
- Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
- Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
- Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
- Direct or participate in surveying to lay out installations or establish reference points, grades, or elevations to guide construction.
- Estimate quantities and cost of materials, equipment, or labor to determine project feasibility.
- Prepare or present public reports on topics such as bid proposals, deeds, environmental impact statements, or property and right-of-way descriptions.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Bachelor's degree
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Bachelor's Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Civil engineers
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a civil engineers:
Civil Engineering, General
19,293 degrees awarded •
305 colleges offer this program
Construction Engineering
1,567 degrees awarded •
49 colleges offer this program
Structural Engineering
338 degrees awarded •
21 colleges offer this program
Civil Engineering, Other
173 degrees awarded •
14 colleges offer this program
Transportation and Highway Engineering
127 degrees awarded •
15 colleges offer this program
Water Resources Engineering
53 degrees awarded •
12 colleges offer this program
Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
21 degrees awarded •
6 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Civil engineers
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become civil engineers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do civil engineers make?
The median annual salary for civil engineers is $99,590.
What education do civil engineers need?
Most civil engineers positions require a bachelor's degree.
Common degree programs include Civil Engineering, General, Construction Engineering, Structural Engineering.
Is becoming civil engineers a good career choice?
Civil engineers is projected to see +5.0% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is faster than average for all occupations. With approximately 23,600 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for civil engineers?
Top colleges for aspiring civil engineers include
University of California-Los Angeles, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of California-Berkeley, The University of Texas at Austin, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to civil engineers?
Civil engineers may also be known as: Airport Engineer, Architectural Engineer, Asphalt Engineer, Base Engineer, Bridge Design Engineer, Bridge Engineer, Building Construction Engineer, Building Engineer, Cadastral Engineer, Cartographic Engineer, City Engineer, Civil Engineer, Civil Engineering Intern, Civil Project Engineer, Concrete Engineer, Condemnation Engineer, Construction Engineer, Construction Project Engineer, Contracting Engineer, County Engineer.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.