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Civil Engineering Technologyat Murray State University

Graduates earn $58,970/yr in their first year — about 3.0% below the national Civil Engineering Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $612K; scenarios range from $550K to $629K depending on AI disruption.

Murray, KY Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
59 SOLID
60
Optimistic
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$58,970
1-year post-graduation
ROI
17.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$612K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Murray State University

The financial data for this program reflects the realities of a specialized technical field within a regional labor market. Your earnings potential, while providing a solid career path, is influenced by the demand for civil engineering technicians in Western Kentucky and nearby Tennessee, which may not always command the same salary premiums as major urban centers. Graduates typically find roles supporting licensed civil engineers in municipal, county, or state government (like the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet), as well as with regional construction companies and land development firms. Your work could involve everything from site surveying and materials testing to preparing CAD drawings for new roads, bridges, or building projects. The noted AI risk highlights the evolving nature of technician roles, where skills in data analysis and automated drafting are becoming increasingly important. To truly differentiate yourself, actively pursue internships with local engineering firms or government agencies; these real-world experiences are invaluable for building practical skills and making crucial professional connections in this niche field.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$550K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple14.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$612K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple15.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$629K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple16.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Murray State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Civil Engineering Technology graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Civil engineering technologists and technicians
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 5,500 openings/yr
$64,200/yr
High
2
Traffic technicians
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 800 openings/yr
$58,480/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Civil Engineering Technology

How Murray State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Rochester Institute of Technology
NY · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$73K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
MD · Public
53
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
18.3x
ROI
Top score
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
NC · Public
63
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
26.2x
ROI
Colorado State University Pueblo
CO · Public
60
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
18.0x
ROI
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
NY · Public
63
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
23.5x
ROI
Also at Murray State University

Other top programs at Murray State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Murray State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

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.

Compare Civil Engineering Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Civil Engineering Technology at Murray State University

How does Murray State University's Civil Engineering Technology program score?

This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Civil Engineering Technology graduates.

How vulnerable is Civil Engineering Technology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Civil Engineering Technology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.