Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)

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.

O*NET definition of Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.

Education workers say the job requires

Share of surveyed workers in Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051) naming each level as required to be hired, 21 respondents, O*NET survey August 2021. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Civil engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field to enter the occupation. They typically need a state-issued license if they provide services directly to the public.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Civil Engineers”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

State government pay plans

Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county) in 39 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.

Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Sources: 39 official state pay plans, linked in each row.

1. Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.4.3
2. Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.4.0
3. Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.4.0
4. Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.3.9
5. Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.3.9
6. Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.3.7
7. Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.3.7
8. Direct or participate in surveying to lay out installations or establish reference points, grades, or elevations to guide construction.3.7
9. Estimate quantities and cost of materials, equipment, or labor to determine project feasibility.3.5
10. Prepare or present public reports on topics such as bid proposals, deeds, environmental impact statements, or property and right-of-way descriptions.3.5

The 10 most important of 11 core tasks for Civil Engineers, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2021.