Civil Engineer

 1. OVERVIEW

Civil engineers plan, design, and oversee the construction and maintenance of essential infrastructure including roads, bridges, buildings, and water systems. Their work supports the built environment and plays a crucial role in public safety, transportation, and sustainability. Civil engineers often work both in office environments and on construction sites.

• 2024 Median Pay: $99,590/year ($47.88/hour)

• Job Growth (2023–2033): +6% (faster than average)

• Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field

2. ROLE BREAKDOWN BY LEVEL

ENTRY LEVEL

• Job Titles: Junior Civil Engineer, Project Engineer I, Civil Engineering Assistant

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (ABET-accredited preferred)

• Experience: 0–2 years

• Certifications (Recommended): EIT (Engineer-in-Training), OSHA 10

• Core Duties:
  • Assist in drafting site plans using AutoCAD or Civil 3D
  • Conduct soil, material, and site analysis under supervision
  • Support permit documentation and calculations
  • Visit construction sites for field surveys

• Salary Range: $65,000–$80,000

MID LEVEL

• Job Titles: Civil Engineer, Project Engineer II, Site Development Engineer

• Education: Bachelor’s degree; PE (Professional Engineer) license preferred

• Experience: 3–7 years

• Certifications (Preferred): PE license, OSHA 30

• Core Duties:
  • Design, model, and manage infrastructure projects
  • Supervise junior engineers and technicians
  • Coordinate with architects, contractors, and public agencies
  • Prepare and sign off on cost estimates and reports

• Salary Range: $80,000–$115,000

SENIOR LEVEL

• Job Titles: Senior Civil Engineer, Principal Engineer, City Engineer, Engineering Manager

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree + PE license

• Experience: 8–15+ years

• Certifications (Valued): PE, PMP (Project Management Professional), ASCE Board Certification

• Core Duties:
  • Lead large-scale infrastructure or city planning projects
  • Approve and review engineering calculations and drawings
  • Oversee permitting, budgeting, and stakeholder coordination
  • Mentor staff and guide organizational engineering strategy

• Salary Range: $115,000–$160,000+

3. HOW TO BECOME ONE

• Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

• Training: Internships, co-ops, and on-the-job experience

• Licenses:
  • Pass the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam
  • Accumulate work experience (typically 4 years)
  • Pass the PE (Principles and Practice of Engineering) exam

• Soft Skills: Problem-solving, communication, teamwork, leadership, time management

4. SKILLS & TOOLS

Core Skills:
• Structural analysis and design
• Hydraulics and stormwater management
• Transportation and traffic engineering
• Cost estimation and construction documentation
• Regulatory compliance and permitting

Tools & Software:
• AutoCAD Civil 3D
• MicroStation
• Revit
• HEC-RAS / HEC-HMS
• ArcGIS
• Primavera or Microsoft Project
• Bluebeam Revu

5. WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Locations: Offices, construction sites, public works departments, private engineering firms
• Schedules: Full-time; frequent overtime during project deadlines
• Environment: May include field inspections in varying weather, site visits with safety gear, indoor technical planning

6. JOB OUTLOOK

• Demand Drivers: Infrastructure investment, renewable energy projects, urban expansion, water system upgrades
• Annual Openings: ~22,900 projected each year through 2033
• Growth Opportunity: Specializations in structural, environmental, transportation, and geotechnical engineering; management roles

7. RELATED OCCUPATIONS

• Role: Construction Manager | Salary: $106,980 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

• Role: Environmental Engineer | Salary: $104,170 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

• Role: Mechanical Engineer | Salary: $102,320 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

• Role: Urban & Regional Planner | Salary: $83,720 | Education Level: Master’s Degree

• Role: Civil Engineering Technician | Salary: $64,200 | Education Level: Associate’s Degree

• Role: Architectural & Engineering Manager | Salary: $167,740 | Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree

8. RESOURCES FOR LEARNING & ADVANCEMENT

Certifications & Courses:
• Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)
• Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE)
• PMP (Project Management Institute)
• ASCE Certificate Programs (Coastal, Geotech, etc.)
• OSHA 10/30 for Construction Safety

Books:
• “Civil Engineering Reference Manual” by Michael R. Lindeburg
• “Structural Engineering for Architects” by Pete Silver
• “Construction Planning and Equipment” by R.L. Peurifoy

Videos & Channels:
• “Civil Engineering Academy” (YouTube)
• “The B1M” (global infrastructure videos)
• “Engineering Explained”
• TED Talks on infrastructure, climate resilience

Communities & Sites:
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• Engineering.com Forums
• r/CivilEngineering (Reddit)
• Civil Engineering Central (job board + blog)

9. REGIONAL DATA & EMPLOYMENT TRENDS

• BLS Civil Engineer Profile
• CareerOneStop Salary by State
• Projections Central - Civil Engineers
• USAJobs - Federal Civil Engineer Roles