Junior Civil Engineer
Impact: Public safety, infrastructure development, economic growth
Assist in the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, and buildings.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Moderate (site visits, inspections)
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- Limited Remote
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours per week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $85,000
- Entry-level
- $65,000
- Senior
- $110,000
- Growth by 2033
- 7% (average)
- Demand
- Growing
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- High
- Typical student debt
- $30,000 - $60,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- CAD Software
- Project Management
- Structural Analysis
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Hydrology
Soft skills
- Problem-solving
- Attention to Detail
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's degree
- Licensing
- Yes
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 8-12 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Junior Civil Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Senior Civil Engineer
- Project Manager/Principal Engineer
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 15% to low risk due to complex problem-solving and on-site judgment.
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Growing
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.4/10
- Meaning
- 3.6/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.2/10
- Prestige
- 6.5/10
- Social perception
- High