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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.
Other titles employers use
Civil Designer · Civil Engineering Assistant · Civil Engineering Technician · Design Technician · Engineer Technician · Engineering Assistant · Engineering Technician · Transportation Engineering Technician
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Confer with supervisor to determine project details such as plan preparation, acceptance testing, and evaluation of field conditions.
- Analyze proposed site factors and design maps, graphs, tracings, and diagrams to illustrate findings.
- Prepare reports and document project activities and data.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, analytical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Mathematics
- Speaking
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Building and Construction
- Design
- Administrative
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Near Vision
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.3 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.4 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.6 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for an associate degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 58%
- A two-year degree 21%
- A four-year degree 18%
- High school or less 3%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Electronic mail software
- Geographic information system
- Development environment software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 9,230
- Job openings each year
- 900
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 16.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 9,230 | 900 | 16.1% |
| California | 6,800 | 640 | 6.3% |
| Florida | 3,130 | 300 | 12.2% |
| Illinois | 3,130 | 280 | — |
| North Carolina | 3,010 | 280 | 7.5% |
| Kentucky | 2,740 | 250 | 1.1% |
| New York | 2,450 | 20 | 7.9% |
| Tennessee | 2,200 | 210 | 6.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,020 | 180 | 1.0% |
| Washington | 1,980 | 210 | 11.2% |
| Minnesota | 1,880 | 170 | 4.4% |
| Michigan | 1,790 | 160 | −2.2% |
| Ohio | 1,790 | 160 | −1.6% |
| Alabama | 1,700 | 150 | 1.2% |
| Colorado | 1,490 | 150 | 15.5% |
| Wisconsin | 1,470 | 140 | 13.1% |
| Virginia | 1,290 | 120 | 1.6% |
| Kansas | 1,280 | 120 | 1.6% |
| Arizona | 1,270 | 120 | 6.7% |
| Oregon | 1,250 | 120 | 11.6% |
| South Carolina | 1,220 | 110 | 7.0% |
| Missouri | 1,100 | 100 | 2.8% |
| Iowa | 1,090 | 100 | 3.8% |
| Utah | 960 | 100 | 23.1% |
| Maryland | 950 | 90 | 5.6% |
| Indiana | 900 | 80 | 4.7% |
| Mississippi | 870 | 80 | −1.1% |
| Georgia | 820 | 80 | 6.5% |
| New Jersey | 800 | 70 | — |
| New Mexico | 690 | 60 | 1.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 680 | 60 | 6.3% |
| West Virginia | 670 | 60 | 3.1% |
| Nevada | 610 | 60 | 3.4% |
| Alaska | 600 | 60 | 5.3% |
| South Dakota | 520 | 50 | 6.1% |
| Oklahoma | 470 | 40 | 4.4% |
| Massachusetts | 450 | 40 | — |
| North Dakota | 450 | 40 | 7.1% |
| Louisiana | 440 | 40 | 2.3% |
| Delaware | 420 | 40 | −2.3% |
| Montana | 390 | 40 | 8.3% |
| Arkansas | 310 | 30 | 3.3% |
| Maine | 310 | 30 | — |
| Idaho | 290 | 30 | 11.5% |
| Wyoming | 290 | 30 | 7.4% |
| Rhode Island | 270 | 30 | 3.8% |
| Connecticut | 220 | 20 | 10.0% |
| Nebraska | 200 | 20 | — |
| Vermont | 180 | 20 | 5.9% |
| New Hampshire | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 311
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 182
- Admit rate
- 67%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
University of Houston
- Degrees each year
- 167
- Admit rate
- 70%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
- Degrees each year
- 165
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Texas State University
- Degrees each year
- 157
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 144
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Purdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 137
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Georgia Southern University
- Degrees each year
- 118
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Compare every college offering engineering technologies/technicians, general