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What is a civil engineering technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Karen Panetta Ph.D.,
George Deodatis

A civil engineering technician assists engineers with technical supports during construction projects. You have to support the engineers with the design and construction of buildings. Civil engineering technicians also carry out site surveys for soil and rock sample analysis as well as prepare building plans.

You also have to make sure that a construction project meets the specifications, requirements, and deadline of your client. You have to come up with the project cost and decide on the type of materials that would be used.

A diploma or a bachelor's degree in civil engineering is required for this job position. For this role, you need to be a top-notch critical thinker, a good decision-maker, and a problem solver. You should also be able to communicate efficiently, possess computer skills, and be a good team player. Time management is also a key skill requirement. Annually, a civil engineering technician makes an average of $62,040.

What general advice would you give to a civil engineering technician?

Karen Panetta Ph.D.Karen Panetta Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Dean of Graduate Education, School of Engineering, Tufts University

This is a different generation of graduates, and many employers are going to want to know how you dealt with and responded to the COVID crisis. The response to this tells so much about an individual's ability to deal with and overcome adversity. They seek innovative, upbeat, and definite answers that show that students are prepared for anything and will be resourceful.

They are also looking to see what personal actions and community involvement students participated in. For instance, online tutoring for kids whose parents needed help homeschooling their kids while they worked, or using their engineering skills to 3D print PPE for local nursing homes and other at-risk populations.

Every engineering student comes out with technical skills, but the ones that used them, and showed their compassion for humanity, will be the ones that companies will want to hire.
ScoreCivil Engineering TechnicianUS Average
Salary
4.2

Avg. Salary $53,829

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
6.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.69%

Asian 7.48%

Black or African American 9.45%

Hispanic or Latino 16.67%

Unknown 4.88%

White 60.84%

Gender

female 17.54%

male 82.46%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
5.6

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.2

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Civil engineering technician career paths

Key steps to become a civil engineering technician

  1. Explore civil engineering technician education requirements

    Most common civil engineering technician degrees

    Associate

    43.8 %

    Bachelor's

    42.0 %

    High School Diploma

    4.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific civil engineering technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Civil 3D10.15%
    Asphalt8.59%
    Construction Sites8.14%
    Construction Projects5.86%
    GPS5.40%
  3. Complete relevant civil engineering technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New civil engineering technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a civil engineering technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real civil engineering technician resumes.
  4. Research civil engineering technician duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
    • Develop detailed MEP AutoCAD layouts and details and Revit families drawings of complex products.
    • Generate coordination sections for MEP meetings.
    • DOT experience as an inspector for several road striping projects.
  5. Prepare your civil engineering technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your civil engineering technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a civil engineering technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable civil engineering technician resume templates

    Build a professional civil engineering technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your civil engineering technician resume.
    Civil Engineering Technician Resume
    Civil Engineering Technician Resume
    Civil Engineering Technician Resume
    Civil Engineering Technician Resume
    Civil Engineering Technician Resume
    Civil Engineering Technician Resume
    Civil Engineering Technician Resume
    Civil Engineering Technician Resume
    Civil Engineering Technician Resume
  6. Apply for civil engineering technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a civil engineering technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first civil engineering technician job

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Average civil engineering technician salary

The average civil engineering technician salary in the United States is $53,829 per year or $26 per hour. Civil engineering technician salaries range between $36,000 and $78,000 per year.

Average civil engineering technician salary
$53,829 Yearly
$25.88 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do civil engineering technicians rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

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Civil engineering technician reviews

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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

fast degree plan

Cons

I really like this carrer. Theres nothing about it that i dont like.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

Learn much about different systems. Project management and worthy salary.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Cons

Less money in this civil engineering works


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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