Civil Engineering Technicians

Impact: Infrastructure development, public safety, urban planning

Assist civil engineers in planning, designing, and building infrastructure projects such as highways, bridges, utilities, and commercial developments. Install, troubleshoot, and maintain designs created by engineers, conduct field surveys, test materials, and prepare reports.

What the day looks like

People interaction
Moderate
Team vs solo
Team-oriented
Client facing
Sometimes
Impact visibility
Moderate
Travel
Frequent local travel
Schedule flexibility
Structured
Remote work
Limited Remote
Typical work hours
40 hours
Stress level
Moderate

At a glance

Median salary
$64,200
Entry-level
$43,550
Senior
$97,840
Growth by 2033
2% (Slower than average)
Demand
Stable
Freelance potential
Low
Salary growth potential
85%
Typical student debt
$15,000 - $30,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

  • CAD software
  • Surveying
  • Material testing

Soft skills

  • Critical-thinking
  • Decision-making
  • Problem-solving

Technical complexity: Moderate

How to get there

Minimum education
Associate's Degree
Licensing
Optional
Years to mid-career
5
Years to senior
10
Career switching
Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

    Where you can go from here

      Typical progression

      1. Can advance to civil engineering technologist or other specialized roles with further education or certification.

      Future outlook

      Automation probability
      15% to low risk due to relationship and judgment components
      AI disruption risk
      Low
      Demand trend
      Stable

      How people feel about it

      Overall satisfaction
      3.2/10
      Meaning
      3/10
      Work-life balance
      3.5/10
      Prestige
      5.5/10
      Social perception
      Moderate

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