How to hire a civil engineering manager

How to hire a civil engineering manager, step by step

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

Post a civil engineering manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The civil engineering manager 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a civil engineering manager 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 manager that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of civil engineering managers.

   Type of Civil Engineering Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Civil Engineering Manager	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.	$29-56
   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:

   • Project Management
   • Business Development
   • Civil 3D
   • Geotechnical
   • CAD
   • Stormwater
   • Construction Projects
   • Structural Engineering
   • Technical Support
   • Cost Estimates
   • DOT
   • Technical Guidance
   • Engineering Services
   • Structural Analysis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage GIS evaluation of basing options for war support.
   • Manage QA for research orient development efforts and for high visibility, production focuse development efforts tie to revenue generation.
   • Complete review of existing client/municipal/utility providers' drawings and GIS layers for obstructions and conflicts.
   • Design and produce plans for commercial and residential projects using Autodesk Autocad/Civil3d, interacting with clients, subcontractors and project managers.
   • Comply with changes in OSHA requirements.
   • Verify that safety (OSHA) and environmental standards (NEPA, SWIP) are being adhere too.

   More civil engineering manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your civil engineering manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A civil engineering manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, civil engineering managers' average salary in georgia is 46% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level civil engineering managers 47% less than senior-level civil engineering managers.
   • Certifications. A civil engineering manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a civil engineering manager's salary.

   Average civil engineering manager salary

   $85,436yearly

   $41.08 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level civil engineering manager salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average civil engineering manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$124,108	$60
   2	Washington	$89,340	$43
   3	Oregon	$88,852	$43
   4	Missouri	$85,297	$41
   5	Massachusetts	$83,864	$40
   6	New Jersey	$82,531	$40
   7	Oklahoma	$81,982	$39
   8	New York	$81,767	$39
   9	Texas	$78,195	$38
   10	North Carolina	$77,304	$37
   11	Illinois	$75,986	$37
   12	New Mexico	$74,592	$36
   13	District of Columbia	$73,646	$35
   14	Pennsylvania	$73,129	$35
   15	Indiana	$72,353	$35
   16	South Carolina	$70,952	$34
   17	Ohio	$70,901	$34
   18	Florida	$70,661	$34
   19	Maryland	$68,139	$33
   20	Iowa	$67,963	$33

   Average civil engineering manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	McAdams	$91,052	$43.77	5
   2	Black Construction Corporation	$90,179	$43.36
   3	City of Seattle	$90,022	$43.28	3
   4	Sound Transit	$89,072	$42.82
   5	HDR	$88,414	$42.51	124
   6	Wsp USA Buildings Inc.	$86,280	$41.48	629
   7	Schemmer	$85,881	$41.29	8
   8	AECOM	$85,592	$41.15	604
   9	Leidos	$85,540	$41.13	237
   10	Obayashi	$84,424	$40.59
   11	JLL	$84,034	$40.40	14
   12	The Summit	$83,379	$40.09	1
   13	Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives	$83,379	$40.09
   14	SCJ Alliance	$83,379	$40.09	1
   15	PEG, LLC	$83,379	$40.09
   16	Farnsworth Group	$83,371	$40.08	31
   17	Recruiter Academy	$83,331	$40.06
   18	Haskell	$83,142	$39.97	7
   19	ProTec International	$82,871	$39.84
   20	American Society of Civil Engineers	$82,852	$39.83

4. Writing a civil engineering manager job description

   A civil engineering manager 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a civil engineering manager job description:

   Civil engineering manager job description example

   Development Review Manager - Civil Engineer IV
   
   An Overview
   
   The Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) is seeking a Development Review Manager for its Development Services Division to manage a team of technical and non-technical staff performing site plan and development review including evaluating impacts to the right-of-way, stormwater quantity calculations, street lights, erosion control, and other site improvements. This position will be responsible for review of complex development proposals and capital improvement projects to ensure that streets and utilities are designed to meet all applicable design standards, codes and regulations, and will develop conditions for approval. Coordination with internal and external stakeholders is a key component of this positions, as is representing T&ES with the Planning Commission, City Council, and the community. The work is performed with considerable independence using professional judgement, while ensuring compliance with City policies and procedures, under the general supervision of the Development Services Division Chief.
   
   The Development Review Manager shall have a thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, management, and planning in the field of civil engineering and land development; shall be able to plan, assign and direct work of subordinate employees; shall have the ability to manage and lead others with diverse interests to build consensus and the resolution of complex problems; shall be able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with employees, elected officials, boards, commissions, governmental agencies, business and community groups, other jurisdictions, and the general public; and shall be able to communicate effectively and clearly, both verbally and in writing.
   
   The Opportunity
   
   * Supervises development review staff and oversees development review;
   * Manages engineering review and provides comments on development, redevelopment, and grading plans throughout the City of Alexandria from concept through completion and provide recommendation for approval and release for construction to the Deputy Director and Director, Transportation and Environmental Services. Reviews the plans for compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, policies, and practices;
   * Reviews plans for compliance in the following areas: Sanitary and storm sewers, hydrology and hydraulics, stormwater management, managerial and structural best management practices, erosion and sediment control, water resources, water and wastewater, solid waste management, roads, transportation, and street and site lighting;
   * Works with staff and developers' representatives on acceptable design alternatives and solutions, including negotiating with developers' representatives for plan design changes;
   * Coordinates development projects internally with multiple departments and externally with local, state and federal agencies, private utilities, property owners, stakeholder groups and individual private citizens;
   * Writes staff reports and conduct presentations to large groups, including presentations to City Council, Planning Commission, and citizen groups;
   * Attends Planning Commission and City Council meetings related to development projects;
   * Provides technical expertise and mentoring to civil engineers within the team, along with conducting regular team meetings and performing annual reviews;
   * Performs related work as required.
   
   About the Department
   
   The Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) strives to improve the overall quality of life within the City of Alexandria through the development of a superior infrastructure. In order to contribute to the physical, social and economic growth of the City of Alexandria, the T&ES employee team provides services of the highest quality in the areas of engineering, environmental quality, traffic control, transit, construction and inspection, surveying, street, sewer and fire hydrant maintenance, and resource and recovery collection. Minimum & Additional Requirements
   
   Bachelor's degree in civil Engineering or other related field and eight (8) years of experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Must possess, or obtain within six months of employment, a license to practice as a Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   
   To be considered as an ideal candidate, one should also possess three (3) years of relevant supervisory and management experience in civil engineering or a closely related field.
   
   Notes
   
   This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment criminal background checks.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right civil engineering manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your civil engineering manager job on Zippia to find and recruit civil engineering manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit civil engineering managers, 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 manager

   Once you've found the civil engineering manager 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.

   To prepare for the new civil engineering manager 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

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