Civil Engineeringat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $75,510/yr in their first year — about 9.0% above the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $937K; scenarios range from $801K to $990K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
Your civil engineering degree from UCLA positions you uniquely within one of the nation's most dynamic labor markets for the field. The university's strong academic reputation, combined with Los Angeles's constant need for vast infrastructure development—from public transit expansions to water systems and urban planning—creates an exceptional demand for skilled graduates. This environment naturally fosters competitive compensation and rapid career progression, often into project management and leadership roles. You'll find opportunities with major engineering consultancies, large construction firms, and key public agencies like Caltrans or the LA Department of Water and Power, shaping the built environment of a major metropolis. However, with AI increasingly automating many design and analysis tasks, your success will hinge on embracing these technologies and developing strong problem-solving and communication skills. Focus on securing internships early to gain practical experience with cutting-edge tools.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UCLA's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Civil Engineering
How UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UCLA
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UCLA, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at UCLA
What does a 75/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Civil Engineering at University of California-Los Angeles?
At 75/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Civil Engineering at University of California-Los Angeles?
The 49% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.