Civil Engineering Technology Degree
Students study the practical skills needed to support civil engineering projects, including surveying, materials testing, construction inspection, and infrastructure drafting. Graduates typically pursue careers as civil engineering technicians, construction inspectors, materials testers, and highway maintenance supervisors. This major provides a faster pathway into the construction and infrastructure industry than a full civil engineering degree.
What Civil Engineering Technology Graduates Do
You’ll be the person who translates an engineer’s blueprint into a tangible reality. As a civil engineering technologist, your days are split between the office and the job site. You’ll use computer-aided design (CAD) software to draft plans for highways and buildings, and then head out to test soil, concrete, and other materials to ensure they meet project specifications. A more specialized path is a traffic technician, where you'll collect and analyze traffic data to help design safer intersections and optimize signal timing.
Early in your career, you’ll focus on routine drafting and data collection. With experience, you’ll advance to managing junior technicians, overseeing quality control for entire projects, and solving more complex design challenges. AI will automate significant parts of this routine work, like initial drafting and data analysis. Your role won't disappear, but your focus will shift toward managing AI tools, verifying their outputs, and handling the critical on-site inspections and problem-solving that require human judgment. Adaptability is key to a successful career.
Common Career Paths
Where Civil Engineering Technology graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 6,300 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Salary Range | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 5,500 | +2.1% | 59% | |
| Traffic technicians | 800 | +3.7% | 46% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).
Best Schools for Civil Engineering Technology
12 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC |
63 58–64 |
$62,552/yr | 26.2x |
| 2 | SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, NY |
63 59–64 |
$62,090/yr | 23.5x |
| 3 | Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV |
61 56–62 |
$57,570/yr | 21.8x |
| 4 | Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo, CO |
60 55–61 |
$62,138/yr | 18.0x |
| 5 | Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH |
60 55–61 |
$57,772/yr | 17.1x |
| 6 | Murray State University Murray, KY |
59 54–60 |
$58,970/yr | 17.4x |
| 7 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO |
58 53–59 |
$54,677/yr | 16.3x |
| 8 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD |
53 49–54 |
$68,809/yr | 18.3x |
| 9 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NY |
51 46–52 |
$59,793/yr | 16.2x |
| 10 | Savannah State University Savannah, GA |
51 46–52 |
$51,654/yr | 22.5x |
| 11 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA |
49 44–50 |
$58,752/yr | 7.9x |
| 12 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY |
46 42–47 |
$73,273/yr | 2.4x |
Highest Earning Civil Engineering Technology Programs
Schools where Civil Engineering Technology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rochester Institute of Technology | $73,273/yr | 46 |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | $68,809/yr | 53 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $62,552/yr | 63 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | $62,138/yr | 60 |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute | $62,090/yr | 63 |
| SUNY College of Technology at Canton | $59,793/yr | 51 |
| Murray State University | $58,970/yr | 59 |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | $58,752/yr | 49 |
| Youngstown State University | $57,772/yr | 60 |
| Fairmont State University | $57,570/yr | 61 |
Best ROI for Civil Engineering Technology
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Civil Engineering Technology.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 26.2x | $62,552/yr | 63 |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute | 23.5x | $62,090/yr | 63 |
| Savannah State University | 22.5x | $51,654/yr | 51 |
| Fairmont State University | 21.8x | $57,570/yr | 61 |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | 18.3x | $68,809/yr | 53 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | 18.0x | $62,138/yr | 60 |
| Murray State University | 17.4x | $58,970/yr | 59 |
| Youngstown State University | 17.1x | $57,772/yr | 60 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | 16.3x | $54,677/yr | 58 |
| SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 16.2x | $59,793/yr | 51 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Consider the Trade Route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Civil Engineering Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.