🏗️
Civil Engineering Consulting
AECOM, Jacobs, WSP
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Civil engineering technologists and technicians help turn plans for roads, bridges, drainage systems, and other infrastructure into work that can be measured, checked, and built. The job is a mix of office drafting and field testing, so you need to be comfortable with both computers and construction sites. The tradeoff is clear: the work is concrete and useful, but much of it is detailed checking and compliance work, with limited upside unless you move into senior technical or engineering roles.
Also known as Civil Engineering TechnicianCivil Engineering TechnologistCivil Design TechnicianCivil CAD TechnicianEngineering Technician, Civil
Median Salary
$64,200
Mean $68,450
U.S. Workforce
~62K
5.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.1%
64.9K to 66.2K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~62K workers, with a median annual pay of $64,200 and roughly 5.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 64.9 K in 2024 to 66.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Post-secondary certificate in civil engineering technology or drafting, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Engineering Aide / CAD Trainee and can progress toward Senior Civil Engineering Technologist. High-value skills usually include AutoCAD Civil 3D & Drafting, Blueprint Reading & Construction Plan Analysis, and Field Materials Testing & Sampling Equipment, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Measure project dimensions and calculate how much material is needed for the job.
- Turn sketches and specifications into detailed drawings and layouts.
- Read blueprints and structural plans to confirm sizes, materials, and design requirements.
- Visit job sites, spot problems, and work with supervisors to adjust plans when conditions change.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Measure project dimensions and calculate how much material is needed for the job.
02 Turn sketches and specifications into detailed drawings and layouts.
03 Read blueprints and structural plans to confirm sizes, materials, and design requirements.
04 Visit job sites, spot problems, and work with supervisors to adjust plans when conditions change.
05 Test materials like soil, concrete, or other building components and record whether they meet standards.
06 Write reports and keep project records, test results, and field notes organized.
Industries That Hire
🚧
Heavy Civil Construction
Kiewit, Bechtel, Skanska
🚉
Transportation Agencies and Infrastructure
Caltrans, Texas DOT, New York City DOT
⚡
Utilities and Energy Infrastructure
Duke Energy, PG&E, Exelon
💧
Water and Environmental Engineering
CDM Smith, Brown and Caldwell, HDR
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
The pay is respectable for a two-year or certificate-based role: the median is $64.2K and the mean is $68.45K.
+
The BLS says no work experience and no on-the-job training are required, which makes it easier to get started.
+
There are about 5.5K annual openings, so hiring is steady even though growth is slow.
+
The work is varied, moving between drafting, site checks, testing, and writing reports.
+
The skills can lead into surveying, construction inspection, or more advanced civil engineering work later on.
Challenges
-
Projected growth is only 2.1% from 2024 to 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field.
-
Pay has a ceiling: to move much higher than the low- to mid-$70Ks, many workers need more education or a step into engineering or management.
-
Routine drafting and measurement work is increasingly software-assisted, so lower-level production tasks can be squeezed over time.
-
Work can depend on construction schedules and public infrastructure budgets, which makes demand uneven across years and regions.
-
Field days can mean noise, dust, traffic, and safety rules, while office days can involve repetitive checking and documentation.
Career Progression
Engineering Aide / CAD Trainee
0-2 years
$40K-$50K
Learns basic drafting, measurements, and reporting while working under close supervision.
Civil Engineering Technician
2-5 years
$51K-$63K
Handles routine drawings, calculations, and field checks on active projects with more independence.
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$64K-$76K
Takes on full project segments, coordinates with supervisors, and may run material tests or site reviews.
Senior Civil Engineering Technologist
9-12 years
$77K-$92K
Leads complex technical work, reviews other people's output, and helps solve design or field problems.
Education Paths
Post-secondary certificate in civil engineering technology or drafting
A common entry path, held by 29.77% of workers in this occupation, especially for drafting and field-support roles.
Some college coursework in civil engineering, CAD, or drafting
Another common route, used by 28.09% of workers, often combined with internships or lab work.
Associate's degree in civil engineering technology
The BLS typical entry point, and 21.15% of workers report this level of education.
Bachelor's degree in a related field
A less common path, held by 18.34% of workers, and it can help if you want a faster path into senior technical work.
Key Skills
Technical
AutoCAD Civil 3D & Drafting 78%
Blueprint Reading & Construction Plan Analysis 74%
Field Materials Testing & Sampling Equipment 71%
Surveying, Leveling & Measurement 68%
Microsoft Excel, Calculations & Data Tables 64%
GIS Mapping & Diagramming Software 60%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionMathematicsSpeakingWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+2.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
5.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 64.9K to 66.2 K over the next decade, representing 2.1% growth. Around 5.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.