How to hire a construction engineer

How to hire a construction engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step construction engineer hiring guide:

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

What does a construction engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your construction engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a construction engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A construction engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, construction engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of construction engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Construction Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Construction Engineer	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.	$26-48
   Civil Designer	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.	$19-38
   Civil Engineering Internship	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... Show more	$16-38

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Tractor Trailer
   • Construction Sites
   • Cranes
   • Bulldozers
   • Grade Stakes
   • Combat
   • Construction Equipment
   • Construction Management
   • Project Management
   • CAD
   • Cost Estimates
   • Safety Standards
   • Technical Support
   • OSHA

   Check all skills

   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.

   More construction engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, construction engineers' average salary in wyoming is 34% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level construction engineers earn 46% less than senior-level construction engineers.
   • Certifications. A construction engineer 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 construction engineer's salary.

   Average construction engineer salary

   $74,680yearly

   $35.90 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level construction engineer salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average construction engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$93,830	$45
   2	New York	$86,855	$42
   3	Washington	$84,257	$41
   4	Tennessee	$81,063	$39
   5	New Jersey	$78,928	$38
   6	District of Columbia	$77,583	$37
   7	Pennsylvania	$77,292	$37
   8	Virginia	$77,205	$37
   9	Massachusetts	$76,056	$37
   10	Florida	$75,330	$36
   11	North Carolina	$74,806	$36
   12	Missouri	$73,196	$35
   13	Illinois	$71,429	$34
   14	Maryland	$71,062	$34
   15	Colorado	$70,832	$34
   16	Texas	$68,589	$33
   17	Nevada	$68,438	$33
   18	Wisconsin	$66,941	$32
   19	Michigan	$66,747	$32
   20	Arizona	$65,358	$31

   Average construction engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$132,386	$63.65	43
   2	Amazon	$121,437	$58.38	201
   3	BP America Inc	$119,829	$57.61
   4	Repsol Energy North America Corporation	$100,242	$48.19	2
   5	Parsons	$97,148	$46.71	307
   6	Oracle	$91,026	$43.76	214
   7	Neuralink IT Solutions	$89,091	$42.83
   8	Lear	$85,057	$40.89
   9	ArcelorMittal	$84,895	$40.81
   10	Woods Services	$84,691	$40.72
   11	General Dynamics	$84,168	$40.47	9
   12	New York Power Authority	$83,626	$40.20	5
   13	Verizon Communications	$82,759	$39.79
   14	American Water	$82,311	$39.57	20
   15	Zurich	$82,018	$39.43	11
   16	Progress Rail	$81,695	$39.28	3
   17	Southern	$81,344	$39.11	14
   18	CenturyLink	$80,884	$38.89
   19	PMA Consultants	$79,357	$38.15	6
   20	Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (Semiconductor & Display)	$79,236	$38.09	6

4. Writing a construction engineer job description

   A good construction engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a construction engineer job description:

   Construction engineer job description example

   • BS Construction Management or BS Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical or Civil) and 1-2 years related experience in industrial or commercial construction/project management.
   • Must be willing to travel and have reliable transportation. (Daily driving approx. 20% & travel within sales region, approx. 50%). Some weekends required.
   • Strong communication and organizational skills and have a thorough understanding of construction safety regulations.
   • Successful candidate will possess the means for paying for travel with monthly reimbursement of travel expenses

   DO WE HAVE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR? Our Construction Management Group works closely with our direct US sales team of over 200.

   We provide a competitive base salary, bonus package, solid health coverage, 401K and pension plan, plus an expense package including car allowance.

   You will also receive on-going training, administrative support, technical service, and R&D support along with encouragement, recognition and opportunities for growth. And we stand behind our nearly century-old Stonhard name and our brands.

   DO YOU SEE YOURSELF WORKING WITH US? LET’S GET STARTED.

   Stonhard is part of RPM, International (NYSE: RPM) is headquartered in Maple Shade, NJ and has nearly a century of experience manufacturing and installing high performance, seamless floors throughout the world. We manufacture and install long-term floor, wall and lining solutions to markets including, but not limited to: food & beverage, general manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical processing, education, healthcare, government, technology and hospitality.

   We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

   Company DescriptionStonhard is part of RPM, International (NYSE: RPM) headquartered in Maple Shade, NJ and has more than 95 years of experience manufacturing and installing high performance, seamless floors throughout the world. We manufacture and install long-term floor, wall and lining solutions to markets including, but not limited to: food & beverage, general manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical processing, education, healthcare, government, technology and hospitality

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find construction engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any construction engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level construction engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your construction engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality construction engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with construction engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 construction engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the construction engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new construction engineer. 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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How much does it cost to hire a construction engineer?