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Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians

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.

What it pays
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $31.23/hr — about $65,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $21.26/hr; the top 10% earn $47.59/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Associate degree. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 0.8% of civil engineering technologists and technicians are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, analytical and organized and detail-focused.

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Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a civil engineering technologists and technician make?
The median pay is $31.23 per hour — roughly $65,000 a year, with the real range running from about $21.26/hr (10th percentile) to $47.59/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a civil engineering technologists and technician?
The typical entry-level education is: Associate degree. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
What does a civil engineering technologists and technician actually do all day?
Calculate dimensions, square footage, profile and component specifications, and material quantities, using calculator or computer. 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.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

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