Civil Engineer (2024)

Being a civil engineer comes with a higher-than-average salary. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median pay for a civil engineer is $88,050 or $42.33 per hour. This is slightly below the average wage for all engineers, but it's still significantly higher than the national average wage. Civil engineers have quite a bit of variation in their salaries. Some make around $60,000, while others make around $133,000.

factors that affect pay

Civil engineers make more in areas where their skills are essential for public safety. They're often very in demand in coastal regions or areas with extreme weather.

The other thing that impacts your pay is the field you work in. Civil engineers often make above-average wages when they work for the government. You also earn more when you work on big projects or projects that require specialized knowledge. Healthcare, oil and gas, and mining all pay very well.

Wondering what you can earn as a civil engineer? Find out immediately with the Randstad salary page! You can quickly and easily see what the average salary of a civil engineer is.

Because infrastructure is so complex, most civil engineers choose to specialize in one specific part of civil engineering. Here are some examples of common types of civil engineers:

• structural engineering: A structural civil engineer helps to build and maintain buildings or other large structures like dams.
• environmental engineering: These engineers do things like conduct soil assessments, create storm water prevention plans, and manage other parts of the environment.
• transportation engineering: Transportation engineers deal with roads, cars, highway ramps, and more.
• water resource engineering: These engineers help to manage waterways and route water and wastewater safely.
• surveying: These engineers survey land to prepare for projects or provide documentation.

• civil engineer job description

  What does a civil engineer do each day? No matter what type of engineer you are, your typical workday has a lot of variety. Your job typically consists of being given projects and then figuring out how to complete them. To successfully finish your tasks, you'll need to handle one or more of the following responsibilities:

  • planning: You are typically the person who designs the plans that everyone else follows. You'll use your knowledge of physics, construction, and math to create safe, reliable infrastructure. These detailed plans then become the basis of the entire project.
  • budgeting: Civil engineers are often in charge of the project's budget. Your employer tells you how much they can spend, and then, you find materials and methods that let you stay on budget.
  • team supervision: Almost no civil engineers work alone. Instead, you have a team of people underneath and alongside you. You'll help to keep everyone on track and assign tasks to different experts.
  • construction: Being a civil engineer is often a hands-on job. Engineers end up working in the field to do things like install pipes or connect wiring.
  • testing: You make sure that all infrastructure meets rigorous safety and performance standards. Depending on the project, you might perform experiments or run trials.
  • documenting your work: Though you often work independently, you'll still have supervisors and clients to work with. A lot of your job involves creating and submitting paperwork. This documentation is then used for oral progress reports, permit applications, and other bureaucratic details.

• civil engineer work environment

  If you get tired of working in the same spot all day, you'll love civil engineering. Because there's so much variety in your daily tasks, you move around a lot. About half of your work would be from a desk. You'll spend a lot of time working with computer software or paperwork. Much of this work could be done at home, and remote work opportunities do exist. Civil engineers often have a lot of fieldwork to do as well. You visit job sites, go to manufacturing facilities, and visit planning departments in other locations.

• who are your colleagues?

  You work with a lot of different people over the course of your career. Depending on your current job, your colleagues could include other engineers like industrial engineers and electrical engineers. You also often work with professionals like project managers, architects, and accountants. In some cases, your colleagues also include specialists like machine operators, landscapers, and urban planners. Finally, your team will often include laborers and helpers like construction workers and materials handlers.

• work schedule

  Being a civil engineer often means being very busy. Civil engineers almost always work full-time jobs. In many cases, your employer will need you to work more than 40 hours per week. Overtime is especially common at the beginning and end of a project. When you're on a tight deadline, you often end up putting in extra hours.

  Your work schedule is often quite flexible. Most civil engineers work during the day. Especially when meeting with team members, you need to be available during typical weekday office hours. However, since this job involves a lot of independent work, you often make your own schedule. Instead of clocking in and out, your employer simply requires you to work long enough to get the job done. Some civil engineers who prefer working on nights or weekends have those times as an option.

• job outlook for civil engineer

  Since you're involved in all the essential infrastructure that people use every day, this job has a lot of stability. The BLS predicts that civil engineer jobs willgrow at a rate of 7%. Each year, an average of 24,200 new jobs open. Data suggests that the field with the most job growth would besolar power generation. There is also likely to be higher-than-average job growth for civil engineers in travel, air transportation, and scientific research.

  Being a civil engineer provides a lot of opportunities in other fields as well. Some civil engineers transition to mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, or other similar fields. Others use their experience and skills to become urban planners or project management specialists.

• benefits of working for randstad as a civil engineer

  Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:

  • being paid weekly
  • flexibility
  • always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
  • many training opportunities
  • a range of jobs in your area

  Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as a civil engineer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!

• education

  The standard level of education for a civil engineer is a bachelor's degree. Most employers want a person with a civil engineering degree. However, taking part in a general engineering program with a specialization in something like city planning may also let you qualify as a civil engineer. In some cases, you may want to consider getting a master's degree as well. This helps you obtain senior-level positions.

• licensure

  You don't need a license to call yourself a civil engineer. However, there are state licenses that all civil engineers could apply for. The professional engineer (PE) license is a must-have credential if you want to progress in your career. A PE license means you can work independently without having another engineer check your work. Many employers require their civil engineers to have this license so that they could manage projects.

• experience

  Not every job requires experience. However, until you have experience, you'll only qualify for entry-level jobs. The majority of employers want more experienced civil engineers, so they would request that you have around two to four years of relevant experience. Internships or apprenticeships could help you get your foot in the door.

• skills and competencies

  This job can be challenging if you don't have the right skills and training. Civil engineers do best when they have these qualities:

  • communication skills: You spend a lot of time working as a team and reporting to other departments. It's essential to be able to communicate professionally and explain highly technical concepts in easy-to-understand terms. You need both written and spoken communication abilities.
  • leadership skills: Civil engineers are leaders, so you'll find it easier to manage your job if you're comfortable delegating to others. Being confident enough to make decisions is also useful.
  • technological skills: Many employers ask for civil engineers who can work with software like AutoCAD. The best civil engineers easily use computer software to plan, design, and monitor infrastructure.
  • organizational skills: Staying organized helps you handle all the complex aspects of an infrastructure project. In addition to keeping track of documents and tools, you'll also need to be able to manage scheduling and paperwork.
  • engineering skills: Engineers need a wide variety of technical knowledge. You'll need to understand math and physics. Depending on the job, things like principles of design, electrical circuitry, or thermodynamics might be required too.

• is being a civil engineer hard?

  Most civil engineers find the job to be an exciting challenge. The hours are long, and the projects are complex, but many people feel that it's engaging and interesting. The key to making the job easier is preparation. Paying close attention to your studies and training ensures that you aren't confused and stressed at work.

• what's the hardest engineering major?

  Civil engineering actually ranks as one of the most straightforward types of engineering. A study of students found that civil engineers studied around 17 hours per week while other engineering students had to study around 20 hours. The degrees that take the most time to learn are chemical engineering, astronautical engineering, and biomedical engineering.

• how do you pick a civil engineering specialization?

  For many engineers, their specialization is simply the area they're most passionate about. For example, if you're interested in wetlands conservation, being an environmental engineer is a good choice. When picking a specialization, you might also want to take into account which industries pay the best and which classes you found easiest in school.

• can you make over six figures as a civil engineer?

  Even though the average civil engineer salary is under six figures, many jobs pay more than the average. Over 10% of all civil engineers earn upwards of $133,000. If you want a six-figure job, having more experience and getting your PE license would help.

• do most civil engineers like their jobs?

  This field is known for its very high number of happy engineers; 85% of civil engineers say they're satisfied with their jobs. Most people like it because it's a very stable career that pays well, has plenty of variety, and lets you help others. Your projects make a difference and keep people safe, and that can be very rewarding.

• how do I find a job as a civil engineer?

  Applying for a civil engineer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our civil engineer jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state-of-the-art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!