Civil Engineering Technician
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Apply theory and principles of civil engineering in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of structures and facilities under the direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
Also called: Civil Designer · Civil Engineering Assistant · Civil Engineering Technician · Design Technician · Engineer Technician · Engineering Assistant · Engineering Technician · Transportation Engineering Technician
O*NET-SOC 17-3022.00 (Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians)
Civil Engineering Technician salary
Wages for civil engineering technologists and technicians across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $31.23.
Civil Engineering Technician pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $54,690 | $83,490 | $111,150 |
| Texas | $42,520 | $59,390 | $92,560 |
| Florida | $42,760 | $63,410 | $97,160 |
| New York | $46,730 | $73,790 | $99,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,740 | $63,650 | $83,840 |
| Illinois | $49,130 | $79,190 | $119,990 |
| Ohio | $45,970 | $64,730 | $94,890 |
| Georgia | $36,040 | $50,360 | $82,250 |
| North Carolina | $44,940 | $58,700 | $81,740 |
| Michigan | $44,840 | $57,990 | $85,650 |
Civil Engineering Technician job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 70,900 jobs in 2025 to 73,200 in 2035 (3% change).
- About 6,100 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Below Average.
How to become a civil engineering technician
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma4.1%
- High school diploma or equivalent25.8%
- Some college, no degree28.5%
- Associate's degree18.5%
- Bachelor's degree18.1%
- Master's degree4%
- Doctoral or professional degree1%
Related training programs
- Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- Building Construction Technology/Technician
- Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
- Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
What does a civil engineering technician do?
Common tasks
- Calculate dimensions, square footage, profile and component specifications, and material quantities, using calculator or computer.
- Inspect project site and evaluate contractor work to detect design malfunctions and ensure conformance to design specifications and applicable codes.
- Read and review project blueprints and structural specifications to determine dimensions of structure or system and material requirements.
- Draft detailed dimensional drawings and design layouts for projects to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Conduct materials test and analysis, using tools and equipment and applying engineering knowledge.
- Develop plans and estimate costs for installation of systems, utilization of facilities, or construction of structures.
- Confer with supervisor to determine project details such as plan preparation, acceptance testing, and evaluation of field conditions.
- Analyze proposed site factors and design maps, graphs, tracings, and diagrams to illustrate findings.
- Prepare reports and document project activities and data.
- Develop project budgets by estimating the cost of project activities.
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Mathematics
- Using math to solve problems.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Civil Engineering Technician certifications
The certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies · Specialty
- Autodesk Certified User (ACU)Autodesk, Inc. · Product/Equipment
- National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies · Specialty
- American Society of Plumbing Engineers · Advanced
- American Society of Plumbing Engineers · Advanced
- Isograd/Tosa · Product/Equipment
- Academy of Geo-Professionals · Advanced
Civil Engineering Technician jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more engineering jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Engineering jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Architectural and Civil Drafters
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Construction Managers
- Construction and Building Inspectors
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters
- Mechanical Drafters
- Transportation Engineers
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
More engineering careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.