Post job

Construction engineer vs civil designer

The differences between construction engineers and civil designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a construction engineer and a civil designer. Additionally, a construction engineer has an average salary of $74,680, which is higher than the $58,421 average annual salary of a civil designer.

The top three skills for a construction engineer include tractor trailer, construction sites and cranes. The most important skills for a civil designer are civil 3d, autocad, and civil engineering.

Construction engineer vs civil designer overview

Construction EngineerCivil Designer
Yearly salary$74,680$58,421
Hourly rate$35.90$28.09
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs51,38057,036
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

What does a construction engineer do?

A Construction Engineer designs, coordinates, and supervises projects within the construction industry. They conduct surveys, analyze results, and supervise projects from the cradle to the grave.

What does a civil designer do?

A Civil Designer plans, scales, and drafts drawings and maps for roads, bridges, and other construction projects. They work with engineers and project managers in determining material, labor, and other costs of the assigned projects.

Construction engineer vs civil designer salary

Construction engineers and civil designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Construction EngineerCivil Designer
Average salary$74,680$58,421
Salary rangeBetween $55,000 And $101,000Between $41,000 And $81,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWalnut Creek, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaParsons
Best paying industryEnergyConstruction

Differences between construction engineer and civil designer education

There are a few differences between a construction engineer and a civil designer in terms of educational background:

Construction EngineerCivil Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringDrafting And Design
Most common collegeNew York UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

Construction engineer vs civil designer demographics

Here are the differences between construction engineers' and civil designers' demographics:

Construction EngineerCivil Designer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 90.7% Female, 9.3%Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between construction engineer and civil designer duties and responsibilities

Construction engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage 3D BIM coordination, improving field production and reducing rework.
  • Manage all aspects of work packages which include subsea EPC's contractors (i.e.
  • Manage all trades installing formwork, concrete, interior finishes, built-up and rubber roofs, and EIFS.
  • Calculate sub-contractors weekly accomplish work for payroll.
  • Manage Geotechnical subcontractor daily testing logs and sampling activities.
  • Manage and/or participate in a variety of water and wastewater assist company principles as engineering consultants for numerous municipal clients.
  • Show more

Civil designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage production of full sets of contract documents (grading, drainage, water, sewer, paving and SWPPP).
  • Create and revise detail drawings (MEP).
  • Deliver as-built MEP schematics and structural details.
  • Perform the analysis of guy communication towers using CSA-S37/01 and AISC manual guidelines.
  • Use Trimble GPS station to survey projects, upload data into trimble geomatics office3.
  • Direct or participate in surveying to lay out installations and establishreference points, grades and elevations to guide construction.
  • Show more

Construction engineer vs civil designer skills

Common construction engineer skills
  • Tractor Trailer, 18%
  • Construction Sites, 16%
  • Cranes, 15%
  • Bulldozers, 11%
  • Grade Stakes, 8%
  • Combat, 8%
Common civil designer skills
  • Civil 3D, 18%
  • Autocad, 16%
  • Civil Engineering, 8%
  • Civil Design, 4%
  • Site Design, 4%
  • GIS, 3%

Browse architecture and engineering jobs