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How to hire a civil engineering internship

Civil engineering internship hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring civil engineering interns in the United States:

  • There are a total of 65,803 civil engineering interns in the US, and there are currently 109,733 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a civil engineering internship is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per civil engineering internship on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Orlando, FL, has the highest demand for civil engineering interns, with 9 job openings.

How to hire a civil engineering internship, step by step

To hire a civil engineering internship, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a civil engineering internship, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step civil engineering internship 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 internship job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new civil engineering internship
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a civil engineering internship do?

Civil engineer interns work to improve their knowledge about construction and its relevant works. An internship provides them insight into various aspects of construction and how things run at the site. Through an internship, they learn how to differentiate between reality and engineering. Civil engineering interns will typically perform various tasks, including preparing and monitoring documents, working closely with the civil engineer to resolve issues and review complaints, and preparing plans and maps. They are also expected to visit construction sites to do their planning, quality control, documentation, and site execution.

Learn more about the specifics of what a civil engineering internship does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the civil engineering internship you need to hire. Certain civil engineering internship roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a civil engineering internship to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a civil engineering internship that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of civil engineering interns and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Civil Engineering InternshipDescriptionHourly rate
    Civil Engineering InternshipCivil 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.$16-38
    Structural DesignerA 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 EngineerA 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
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Civil 3D
    • GIS
    • Roadway Design
    • PowerPoint
    • Construction Management
    • Cost Estimates
    • Geotechnical
    • Engineering Design
    • Data Collection
    • ArcGIS
    • Hec Ras
    • Aided Design
    • Engineering Drawings
    • Project Management
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Assist and manage in the design and installation of central hydraulic systems that utilize PLC's.
    • Programme VBA tool to organize and manage operator-supply production data into a comprehensive data set.
    • Prepare summonses and other writs.
    • Create as-built drawings to reflect changes in the field during construction process.
    • Prepare civil summonses and other writs by typing proper forms and creating envelopes.
    • Field technician for QC of for concrete, pile, and structural backfill installation.
    More civil engineering internship duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your civil engineering internship job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A civil engineering internship salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, civil engineering interns' average salary in north carolina is 47% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level civil engineering interns earn 58% less than senior-level civil engineering interns.
    • Certifications. A civil engineering internship 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 internship's salary.

    Average civil engineering internship salary

    $52,597yearly

    $25.29 hourly rate

    Entry-level civil engineering internship salary
    $34,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 25, 2025

    Average civil engineering internship salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$97,782$47
    2New Jersey$72,792$35
    3Oklahoma$72,358$35
    4Washington$70,312$34
    5Pennsylvania$69,563$33
    6Virginia$67,572$32
    7Florida$65,438$31
    8New York$64,280$31
    9Oregon$63,733$31
    10Minnesota$61,015$29
    11Louisiana$60,923$29
    12Texas$59,042$28
    13Nevada$57,328$28
    14Maryland$56,522$27
    15Georgia$55,150$27
    16Iowa$55,004$26
    17Colorado$54,666$26
    18Wisconsin$53,704$26
    19Utah$52,638$25
    20Arizona$51,664$25

    Average civil engineering internship salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Adobe$101,473$48.7935
    2CITGO Petroleum$98,535$47.37
    3Jacobs Engineering Group$84,212$40.49
    4Palantir$82,684$39.7519
    5Exelon$81,463$39.1638
    6RS&H$77,999$37.5089
    7Black & Veatch$77,094$37.06236
    8Walter P Moore$73,407$35.2976
    9The Boring Company$71,594$34.422
    10HDR$69,198$33.27132
    11AECOM$68,071$32.73537
    12Guernsey - Engineers/Architects/Consultants$67,229$32.322
    13The S/L/A/M Collaborative$66,886$32.16
    14Norfolk Southern$66,864$32.15
    15Blythe Construction$66,325$31.891
    16Civil & Environmental Consultants$66,285$31.8763
    17VisionCorp Rep$65,967$31.71
    18Smith Seckman Reid$65,742$31.619
    19Chicago Public Schools$65,602$31.54
    20Michael Baker$65,433$31.4653
  4. Writing a civil engineering internship job description

    A civil engineering internship 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 internship job description:

    Civil engineering internship job description example

    • Must be pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering from an ABET accredited university with at least 1 year remaining until completion
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
    • Ability to work on multiple assignments simultaneously

    Preferred Qualifications:

    • Prior internship or related experience
    • AutoCAD and / or MicroStation experience
    • Experience or exposure to the Florida Department of Transportation's FDM and design standards
    • Specific interest in Transportation / Water Resources

    What is an Academic Year Part-Time Intern?

    Historically, RS&H has a phenomenal track record of converting interns to entry-level associates. The Academic Year Part-Time Internship (AYPTI) provides soon-to-be graduates pursuing a career in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry with an opportunity to sharpen their skills and gain hands-on experience during their final year(s) of study.

    Who is Eligible to apply?

    Rising graduating seniors and 2nd-year graduate students, plus rising juniors and 1st-year grad students are eligible for AYPTI consideration.

    Is this internship position remote?

    While some tasks may be performed in a remote setting, the expectation is that the student will work on-site for up to 29 hours per week. Most AYPTI will average 15-20 hours per week.

    Is this internship opportunity paid?

    This is a paid internship. AYPTIs will be paid a fair and competitive wage in comparison to market standards.

    When during the year does the Academic Year Part-Time Internship occur?

    The internship will start during the month of September. Rising graduating seniors and 2 nd Year graduate students will intern for up to two (2) semesters during their final academic year. Should a rising junior or 1st-year graduate student be selected, they are eligible to intern for up to four (4) semesters to include the summer. Internship extensions will be granted based on performance and determined near the end of each semester. Graduating interns may be offered an entry-level position during or near the conclusion of their term.

    RS&H was named a 2022 Yello/Way-Up Top 100 Internship Program and five interns gained recognition as 2022 Yello/Way Up Top 100 Interns. We provides interns an opportunity to gain hands-on engineering experience in their specific field of interest. Interns will work alongside top engineers and planners in a fast-paced, professional setting and will gain valuable experiences while applying educational knowledge and skills to a professional environment.

    #LI-TB1

    The Team

    We value highly-motivated individuals that are interested in collaboratively working with a team of ambitious thinkers, learners, and entrepreneurs. Each day, we partner with transportation agencies and local governments across the country to keep our communities moving and improving the overall quality of life. By joining our team, you too can lead the evolution of transportation.

    The Company

    RS&H provides fully integrated architecture, engineering, and consulting services to help clients realize their most complex facility and infrastructure projects for land, air, and space. We are committed to bringing extraordinary solutions to our clients through the promise of imagination, ingenuity, and innovation. With a tradition of excellence that began in 1941, we are consistently ranked among the nation's top 100 design firms. We attribute our success to an unwavering commitment to our core values of: integrity, quality service, business success and valuing associates.

    An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

    Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

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  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find civil engineering interns 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.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your civil engineering internship job on Zippia to find and attract quality civil engineering internship candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting civil engineering interns requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 internship

    Once you've selected the best civil engineering internship candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    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.

    To prepare for the new civil engineering internship first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  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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How much does it cost to hire a civil engineering internship?

Hiring a civil engineering internship comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting civil engineering interns involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of civil engineering internship recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Civil engineering interns earn a median yearly salary is $52,597 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find civil engineering interns for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $16 and $38.

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