What does a civil engineer do? Duties, pay, education and outlook
Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects. A bachelor's degree is typically needed. The median pay was $100,840 per year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.
At a glance
| Item | What BLS reports |
|---|---|
| SOC code | 17-2051 |
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Licensing | Not required for entry-level jobs; a Professional Engineer (PE) license is typically required to provide services directly to the public |
| Median annual wage | $100,840 per year (May 2025) |
| Projected growth | 6 percent, 2025 to 2035 (faster than average) |
| Number of jobs | 380,600 (2025) |
What does a civil engineer do?
Civil engineers work on the structures and systems people rely on: roads, bridges, buildings, water systems and more. According to the BLS handbook, typical duties include:
- Analyzing plans, survey reports, maps and other project data to plan a project.
- Weighing regulations, site selection and other factors that affect a project.
- Analyzing the results of soil and building material tests to determine strength for foundations.
- Preparing cost estimates for equipment, materials and labor to decide whether a project is feasible.
- Using design software to plan transportation systems, hydraulic systems and structures.
- Submitting permit applications and confirming that work meets regulations.
- Performing or overseeing surveying to establish building locations, site layouts, grades and elevations.
- Managing the construction, repair, maintenance and replacement of buildings and infrastructure.
Common specialties include construction, geotechnical, structural and transportation engineering.
Work environment
Civil engineers split their time between offices and construction sites. According to BLS, the largest employers are engineering services (51 percent), state government (11 percent), local government (10 percent), nonresidential building construction (7 percent) and heavy and civil engineering construction (3 percent). Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week.
Education, training and licensing
A bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field is typically needed. Employers usually prefer graduates of accredited programs, and co-ops and internships are common ways to gain experience while studying.
Licensure is not required for entry-level civil engineers. However, civil engineers typically must be licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) if they provide services directly to the public. BLS says licensure generally requires an accredited degree, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience and a passing score on the PE exam. Each state sets its own rules, so check your state licensing board.
Skills that matter
BLS names communication, decision-making, interpersonal, math, organizational and problem-solving skills. O*NET highlights active listening, critical thinking, mathematics, reading comprehension, speaking and science. Its technology categories for the job include computer-aided design (CAD) software, geographic information systems, project management software and spreadsheet software.
How much do civil engineers earn?
BLS reports a median annual wage of $100,840 per year (May 2025). Half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less. BLS also prints that the lowest 10 percent earned less than $68,240 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $163,220 (May 2025).
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Civil Engineers, pay tab, based on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Your pay depends on location, employer type and experience. See how to research salary and how to negotiate an offer.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of civil engineers to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. That is a projected change of 24,500 jobs. About 22,700 openings are projected per year, on average, over the decade.
How to get hired
- Choose an accredited program. Employers usually prefer graduates of accredited programs.
- Get field exposure early. Co-ops and internships are common, and they show you can work between an office and a site.
- Start the licensing path. Passing the FE exam is an early step toward the PE license.
- Write resume bullets around projects. Name the structure or system, your role, the software used and the outcome. See how to write an ATS-friendly resume.
- Search public and private employers. BLS shows state and local government among the larger employers. Use how to find a job fast as a routine, then search jobs on LiveRec.
Related occupations
BLS lists architects, civil engineering technologists and technicians, construction managers, environmental engineers, surveyors and urban and regional planners among similar occupations.
Frequently asked questions
Do civil engineers need a license? Not for entry-level work, according to BLS. A PE license is typically required if you provide services directly to the public.
What does it take to earn a PE license? BLS says it generally requires an accredited degree, a passing FE exam score, several years of relevant work experience and a passing PE exam score.
Do civil engineers work outdoors? They split time between offices and construction sites.
Is civil engineering growing? BLS projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 22,700 openings per year.
Related guides
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Civil Engineers, accessed 31 October 2026
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, accessed 31 October 2026
- O*NET OnLine, 17-2051.00 Civil Engineers, accessed 31 October 2026
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