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Academic Field / Engineering Technology

Construction Engineering Technologies

Students study practical construction management skills including cost estimation, project scheduling, blueprint reading, building codes, and site supervision techniques. Graduates typically pursue careers as construction managers, project coordinators, building inspectors, and estimators for general contractors and development companies. The construction industry offers strong advancement opportunities from technician to project leadership roles.

Schools
45
Programs analyzed
Earnings
$71,755
Avg 1-yr grad earnings
Range $47,141–$89,003
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Field Overview

What Construction Engineering Technologies graduates do

You’ll translate complex designs into tangible reality, working where digital plans meet the physical world. Many graduates start on-site as project engineers, assisting a construction manager. Your days will be spent coordinating subcontractors, solving unexpected supply chain issues, and ensuring the project stays on schedule and budget—a management path with strong growth. Others begin in the office as a cost estimator, meticulously analyzing blueprints to price out a job, or as a civil engineering technician, using CAD to draft plans and testing the strength of concrete and soil samples. The pure cost estimator role, however, is facing some headwinds.

With a moderate level of AI exposure, your daily work will change substantially. AI will automate significant chunks of routine tasks, like performing initial cost takeoffs or generating basic site logistics plans. This doesn't mean the jobs are disappearing, but your focus will shift. Your value will come from managing the chaos of a live construction site, validating AI outputs against real-world conditions, and making critical judgment calls that software can’t. Adaptability is no longer a soft skill; it’s a core requirement for success.

Students weighing Construction Engineering Technology often also consider Materials Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, and Architectural Engineering Technology — compare earnings, ROI, and AI outlook side by side.

Career Trajectories

Where Construction Engineering Technologies graduates work

Common career paths for Construction Engineering Technologies graduates, with median salaries, projected growth, and AI exposure per role. Roughly 69,200 combined openings per year across these roles.

Role Median Pay Annual Openings 10-yr Growth AI Exposure
Construction managers
$106,980
$83K–$139K
46,800 +8.7% Moderate · 44%
Cost estimators
$77,070
$60K–$100K
16,900 -4.2% High · 50%
Civil engineering technologists and technicians
$64,200
$52K–$80K
5,500 +2.1% High · 59%
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).
Top Institutions

Best schools for Construction Engineering Technologies

Schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (earnings × AI resilience × ROI × job-market size). Top 10 of 45.

Rank #1 · DegreeOutlook Score 74
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
$89,003 1-yr earnings
40.4x ROI multiple
Very High AI risk
# School DW Score 1-yr Earnings ROI
5 California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA · Public
72 $78,716 36.7x
6 Montana State University
Bozeman, MT · Public
71 $77,139 26.8x
7 University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL · Public
71 $75,407 34.9x
8 Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Stillwater, OK · Public
71 $73,900 24.6x
9 Florida International University
Miami, FL · Public
71 $73,602 34.1x
10 Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA · Public
71 $67,235 42.0x
11 Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO · Public
70 $78,423 18.5x
12 Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, TX · Public
70 $77,799 18.3x
13 Texas State University
San Marcos, TX · Public
70 $76,646 20.1x
14 Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS · Public
70 $74,253 20.5x
15 University of Houston
Houston, TX · Public
70 $73,694 23.4x
16 Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX · Public
70 $72,116 23.4x
17 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL · Public
70 $70,804 36.4x
18 Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, NY · Public
70 $69,942 25.1x
19 University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE · Public
69 $71,797 21.7x
20 CUNY New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, NY · Public
69 $67,476 27.7x
Find the top Construction Engineering Technologies schools — ranked by actual earnings data from 45 programs →

Related majors

Similar fields of study often offered alongside Construction Engineering Technologies.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Construction Engineering Technologies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Construction Engineering Technologies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Construction Engineering Technologies

What do Construction Engineering Technologies graduates make in their first year?

Across 45 schools, Construction Engineering Technologies graduates earn an average of $71,755 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $47,141 to $89,003 depending on the school.

What is the AI automation risk for Construction Engineering Technologies?

AI exposure for Construction Engineering Technologies is rated "Very High." With 56% of tasks potentially affected by large language models, most career functions face meaningful automation pressure in the coming decade.

What's the top-ranked school for Construction Engineering Technologies?

California State University-Long Beach leads all 45 programs with a DegreeOutlook Score of 74/100. Graduates earn $89,003/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.

What's the ROI on a Construction Engineering Technologies degree?

The average 10-year earnings multiple is 23.9x tuition. This is a strong return on investment. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.