Civil engineering technologists and technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Mean (average) | $68,990 | $33.17 |
| 90th percentile | $98,980 | $47.59 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Civil engineering technologists and technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $52,750 | $35,610 | $79,240 | 1,800 | 1.93 |
| Alaska | $70,990 | $46,880 | $101,550 | 230 | 1.62 |
| Arizona | $63,560 | $43,990 | $99,160 | 1,050 | 0.73 |
| Arkansas | $51,750 | $34,620 | $77,910 | ||
| California | $83,490 | $54,690 | $111,150 | 7,250 | 0.9 |
| Colorado | $59,050 | $46,450 | $84,550 | 1,820 | 1.44 |
| Connecticut | $73,430 | $39,090 | $104,420 | 330 | 0.45 |
| Delaware | $62,120 | $39,760 | $79,180 | 350 | 1.65 |
| Florida | $63,410 | $42,760 | $97,160 | 4,030 | 0.92 |
| Georgia | $50,360 | $36,040 | $82,250 | 3,840 | 1.78 |
| Guam | $37,230 | $31,200 | $58,240 | 30 | 1.07 |
| Hawaii | $64,410 | $52,000 | $81,860 | 120 | 0.44 |
| Idaho | $63,200 | $38,580 | $95,850 | 440 | 1.16 |
| Illinois | $79,190 | $49,130 | $119,990 | 4,190 | 1.56 |
| Indiana | $64,390 | $43,880 | $87,350 | 1,040 | 0.74 |
| Iowa | $72,540 | $46,520 | $90,760 | 1,130 | 1.64 |
| Kansas | $59,440 | $41,270 | $80,650 | 1,060 | 1.67 |
| Kentucky | $59,710 | $49,230 | $75,200 | 1,860 | 2.11 |
| Louisiana | $68,030 | $45,900 | $99,010 | 410 | 0.48 |
| Maine | $67,540 | $49,660 | $87,290 | 290 | 1.02 |
| Maryland | $62,760 | $46,370 | $87,100 | 620 | 0.51 |
| Massachusetts | $71,350 | $49,110 | $106,650 | 680 | 0.42 |
| Michigan | $57,990 | $44,840 | $85,650 | 2,930 | 1.51 |
| Minnesota | $78,690 | $61,860 | $95,640 | 2,030 | 1.56 |
| Mississippi | $46,430 | $33,610 | $75,200 | 800 | 1.57 |
| Missouri | $61,350 | $43,060 | $82,640 | 1,300 | 1.01 |
| Montana | $61,410 | $47,910 | $78,750 | 310 | 1.36 |
| Nebraska | $66,590 | $49,210 | $99,750 | 370 | 0.81 |
| Nevada | $74,810 | $44,200 | $103,360 | 800 | 1.18 |
| New Hampshire | $64,480 | $45,760 | $88,610 | 300 | 0.99 |
| New Jersey | $70,650 | $43,200 | $99,360 | 760 | 0.4 |
| New Mexico | $62,440 | $47,380 | $86,240 | 710 | 1.84 |
| New York | $73,790 | $46,730 | $99,490 | 1,710 | 0.4 |
| North Carolina | $58,700 | $44,940 | $81,740 | 2,760 | 1.27 |
| North Dakota | $65,030 | $49,080 | $84,790 | 400 | 2.12 |
| Ohio | $64,730 | $45,970 | $94,890 | 1,790 | 0.73 |
| Oklahoma | $60,050 | $42,130 | $86,790 | 400 | 0.54 |
| Oregon | $85,390 | $62,300 | $103,200 | 970 | 1.12 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,650 | $47,740 | $83,840 | 2,290 | 0.86 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,390 | $32,100 | $48,670 | 390 | 0.94 |
| Rhode Island | $63,650 | $51,040 | $82,770 | 140 | 0.64 |
| South Carolina | $53,710 | $41,020 | $79,660 | 1,480 | 1.46 |
| South Dakota | $60,880 | $47,120 | $78,340 | 460 | 2.27 |
| Tennessee | $57,270 | $43,630 | $78,010 | 1,650 | 1.14 |
| Texas | $59,390 | $42,520 | $92,560 | 4,470 | 0.72 |
| Utah | $64,490 | $40,650 | $95,140 | 630 | 0.82 |
| Vermont | $74,100 | $60,520 | $91,600 | 200 | 1.53 |
| Virginia | $67,100 | $45,300 | $99,320 | 1,480 | 0.82 |
| Washington | $79,580 | $54,000 | $102,970 | 2,090 | 1.33 |
| West Virginia | $53,340 | $35,110 | $75,440 | 520 | 1.67 |
| Wisconsin | $73,970 | $48,640 | $94,320 | 1,560 | 1.2 |
| Wyoming | $56,150 | $43,280 | $72,270 | 300 | 2.45 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for civil engineering technologists and technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General CIP 15.0000
- Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians CIP 15.0101
- Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians CIP 15.0201
- Construction Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.1001
- Building Construction Technology/Technician CIP 46.0415
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Report maintenance problems occurring at project site to supervisor and negotiate changes to resolve system conflicts.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (in demand)
- Bentley MicroStation (in demand)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Geographic information system GIS systems (in demand)
- Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visual Basic (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Autodesk Land Desktop
- Bentley Systems InRoads Suite
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Systems Analysis, Time Management.
Common job titles: Civil Designer, Civil Engineering Assistant, Civil Engineering Technician, Design Technician, Engineer Technician, Engineering Assistant, Engineering Technician, Transportation Engineering Technician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do civil engineering technologists and technicians make?
The national median annual wage for civil engineering technologists and technicians was $64,950 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $44,220 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $98,980. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do civil engineering technologists and technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is civil engineering technologists and technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of civil engineering technologists and technicians to change +3.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay civil engineering technologists and technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oregon ($85,390), California ($83,490), Washington ($79,580). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.