How much does a civil engineer make?

The median pay is $48.48 per hour — roughly $101,000 a year, with the real range running from about $32.81/hr (10th percentile) to $78.47/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a civil engineer?

The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).

What does a civil engineer actually do all day?

Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations. Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site. Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.

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Civil Engineers

Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.

What it pays
Civil Engineers earn a median of $48.48/hr — about $101,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $32.81/hr; the top 10% earn $78.47/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 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 1.3% of civil engineers 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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Quick questions

How much does a civil engineer make?: The median pay is $48.48 per hour — roughly $101,000 a year, with the real range running from about $32.81/hr (10th percentile) to $78.47/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a civil engineer?: The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
What does a civil engineer actually do all day?: Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations. Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site. Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.

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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