How to hire a civil engineering assistant

How to hire a civil engineering assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step civil engineering assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a civil engineering assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new civil engineering assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The civil engineering assistant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect civil engineering assistant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of civil engineering assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Civil Engineering Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Civil Engineering Assistant	Civil engineers design, build, supervise, operate, and maintain construction projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.	$21-43
   Structural Designer	A Structural Designer designs, develops, and supervises the construction of new buildings and bridges, or extensions to existing properties or other structures. They review and update construction drawings as well as communicate project problems and flaws to managers.	$22-40
   Structural Design Engineer	A Structural Design Engineer designs drawings, specifications, and computer models of structures for building contractors. They help design hospitals, office blocks, houses, bridges, ships, and other structures.	$25-50

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Construction Management
   • Aided Design
   • Retaining Walls
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Construction Projects
   • Engineering Calculations
   • Construction Materials
   • Auto CAD
   • GPS
   • Geotechnical
   • As-Built
   • FEMA
   • Project Design
   • GIS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage change order and RFI s to addressed any questions or concerns of sub-contractor.
   • Programme VBA tool to organize and manage operator-supply production data into a comprehensive data set.
   • Utilize AutoCAD and GIS systems.
   • Perform surveying duties including GPS systems, transits, and theodolites.
   • Revise RFI and construction detail drawings for source of possible problems during construction.
   • Install, configure and troubleshoot software, in addition to operating conventional surveying and GPS equipment.

   More civil engineering assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your civil engineering assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A civil engineering assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, civil engineering assistants' average salary in arkansas is 39% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level civil engineering assistants earn 51% less than senior-level civil engineering assistants.
   • Certifications. A civil engineering assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a civil engineering assistant's salary.

   Average civil engineering assistant salary

   $63,615yearly

   $30.58 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level civil engineering assistant salary

   $44,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average civil engineering assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$92,475	$44
   2	New Jersey	$72,511	$35
   3	Massachusetts	$68,198	$33
   4	Colorado	$63,841	$31
   5	Washington	$63,801	$31
   6	Texas	$63,544	$31
   7	Arizona	$60,632	$29
   8	South Carolina	$58,199	$28

   Average civil engineering assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Department of Public Social Services	$70,642	$33.96
   2	Amherst College	$68,392	$32.88
   3	China Construction America	$65,494	$31.49
   4	City of Santa Monica	$63,628	$30.59
   5	Bexar County	$61,787	$29.71	1
   6	County Of Los Angeles Public Library	$57,485	$27.64
   7	Conservation Legacy	$53,586	$25.76

4. Writing a civil engineering assistant job description

   A civil engineering assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a civil engineering assistant job description:

   Civil engineering assistant job description example

   JOB SUMMARY: Serves as Group Leader, District Senior Design Engineer, or Unit Manager over professional engineers performing a broad range of engineering principles and oversees complex projects. Manages the quality control process for engineering groups or District. Manages activities of the engineering group or District. Coordinates and assigns projects and project tasks among engineering group members or District to ensure on time project delivery.
   
   JOB SPECIFIC DUTIES: Under limited supervision, assists the District Traffic Engineer in managing the traffic operations consisting of Operations and Access Management. The functions of this work unit include but are not limited to: maintaining and timing traffic signals; processing and issuing special encroachment permits; designing and supervising the installation of traffic controls devices; reviewing construction plans for traffic engineering concerns including safety and operational adequacy; inspecting fatal crash sites; conducting traffic engineering studies; making recommendations to the State Traffic Office for potential project candidates; responding to customer complaints or inquiries about traffic-related matters; participation in the Quick Response program.
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
   
   The selected candidate must meet the advertised minimum qualifications to include State Entry Qualifications as well as Agency Specific Minimum Qualifications
   
   STATE ENTRY QUALIFCATIONS:
   
   * Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or civil engineering and technology from an ABET accredited college or university AND five years of related experience and demonstrated experience in a lead worker or supervisory role.
   * Note: Professional Engineering (PE) license required.
   
   AGENCY SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   * Significant training and experience in applying transportation engineering principles, standards, laws, and/or regulations as part of the preconstruction, construction, or operation of transportation projects
   * Possesses strong familiarity with the functions and practices of Traffic Operations
   * Demonstrates excellent leadership skills with previous experience motivating and guiding others toward accomplishment of office/Department goals.
   * Demonstrated experience in training, planning, directing, and evaluating the work of staff and appropriately managing a diverse workforce managing tasks and workload.
   * Demonstrated experience building and developing effective work team(s).
   * Demonstrated ability to recognize and recommend opportunities to help the Department accomplish its mission.
   * Demonstrated experience making sound, well-informed decisions, and identifying, analyzing and providing effective solutions to complex problems.
   * Demonstrated experience adapting quickly to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
   * Self-motivated and results-oriented.
   * Committed to providing quality customer service.
   * Excellent oral and written communication skills with demonstrated experience working with consultants, subordinates, local officials, media and the general public in a professional manner to meet their needs.
   * Familiarity with traffic operations policies, manuals, and software, including MUTCD and Georgia Code.
   
   PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   * Significant training and experience in managing a Traffic Operations function and a strong awareness of key policies/priorities affecting that program area.
   * Familiarity with the functions of a GDOT District.
   * Demonstrated experience managing or leading a team of employees.
   * Demonstrated experienced overseeing or implementing construction projects.
   * Demonstrated experience preparing, justifying, and administering a budget for a program or section.
   * Demonstrated experience using technology to work more efficiently and improve work processes and products.
   * Demonstrated experience in public speaking to include the ability to present an idea or project in a public meeting format.
   * Demonstrated ability to respond to special events and emergency operations in traffic management.
   * Demonstrated strong negotiation skills
   
   IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL GDOT JOBS
   
   The interview is just one part of the overall selection process and is not the only criteria used to make the final selection. In addition to the interview, the final selection is based on the applicant's work history and performance (documented in HR and/or Office files), PeopleSoft/employee status (i.e. rehire code), employee performance reviews, personnel file review (HR & Office Files), criminal background check, employment reference checks (including references and commendations from Managers and other relevant documentation) and, for supervisory positions, demonstrated leadership skills based on past and current work history will be considered.
   
   Good Employment Standing:
   
   In accordance with the Interview and Selection Process (ISP), an applicant must have no active disciplinary actions to be in good employment standing. Actions that may disqualify an applicant include letters of reprimand (active for 12 months after issuance date); suspension without pay or disciplinary demotion (active for 12 months from the effective date); Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) and Leave Restriction Plans (active until 12 months after the date of conclusion). In addition, an employee must have an overall ePerformance rating score of three (3) or higher on their most current evaluation. Please note that Memorandums of Concern are not considered disqualifying factors. Human Resources may remove any employee from consideration for selection who is pending a disciplinary action; however, if the action is resolved in the employee's favor, he or she will be allowed to compete.
   
   THIS IS AN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
   
   THIS IS AN UNCLASSIFIED POSITION.
   
   THE SELECTED APPLICANT FOR THE POSITION WILL BE SUBJECT TO A REFERENCE CHECK AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK, WHERE APPLICABLE
   
   PLEASE INCLUDE ALL RELEVANT JOB INFORMATION ON THE APPLICATION FOR
   
   CONSIDERATION. ALL APPLICATIONS WILL BE PRESCREENED.
   
   UPON PROMOTION, THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL RECEIVE 10% or THE GDOT JOB SPECIFIC MINIMUM SALARY, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
   
   GDOT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
   
   Bachelor s degree in civil engineering or civil engineering and technology from an ABET accredited college or university and five years of related experience and demonstrated experience in a lead worker or supervisory role OR Professional Engineer (PE) license and five years of related experience and demonstrated experience in a lead worker or supervisory role.
   
   Additional Information
   
   * Number of Openings: 1
   * Advertised Salary: $100,442.00 (O)
   * Shift: Day Job
   * Posting End Date: Oct 20, 2022

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find civil engineering assistants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find civil engineering assistant candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit civil engineering assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new civil engineering assistant

   Once you've found the civil engineering assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new civil engineering assistant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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