Post job

How to hire a construction project engineer

Construction project engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring construction project engineers in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a construction project engineer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per construction project engineer on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 9,497 construction project engineers in the US, and there are currently 66,147 job openings in this field.
  • Chicago, IL, has the highest demand for construction project engineers, with 58 job openings.

How to hire a construction project engineer, step by step

To hire a construction project engineer, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a construction project engineer:

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

What does a construction project engineer do?

A construction project engineer specializes in performing technical work while coordinating clients, managers, subcontractors, and suppliers, ensuring efficient and safe operations. Moreover, their responsibilities revolve around reviewing overall construction plans and blueprints, delegating tasks, gathering data, producing progress reports, developing project objectives, and monitoring construction progress while prioritizing the budget and deadlines. They may also control project plans, assess workforce performance, and maintain daily records. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to safety policies and regulations to maintain a safe work environment for everyone.

Learn more about the specifics of what a construction project engineer does
jobs
Post a construction project engineer job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The construction project engineer 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?

    Hiring the perfect construction project engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of construction project engineers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Construction Project EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Construction Project EngineerCivil 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.$25-41
    Civil Engineering InternshipCivil 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
    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
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Construction Management
    • Project Management
    • Construction Materials
    • Construction Projects
    • Shop Drawings
    • Meeting Minutes
    • Project Site
    • RFI
    • OSHA
    • Project Budget
    • Safety Standards
    • Punch List
    • Technical Support
    • Cost Control
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage roll-out and operation of new site CMMS system, ARCHIbus.
    • Ensure the quick responses from designers for RFI (s) for all project manage and oversee.
    • Facilitate coordination between MEP trades and manage finishes.
    • Manage QA activities and maintain up-to-date quality control system.
    • Manage and/or participate in a variety of water and wastewater assist company principles as engineering consultants for numerous municipal clients.
    • Lead teams in FDA compliance, IQ-OQ-PQ validation methods.
    More construction project engineer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your construction project engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A construction project engineer salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, construction project engineers' average salary in arkansas is 35% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level construction project engineers earn 39% less than senior-level construction project engineers.
    • Certifications. A construction project 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 project engineer's salary.

    Average construction project engineer salary

    $68,635yearly

    $33.00 hourly rate

    Entry-level construction project engineer salary
    $53,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025

    Average construction project engineer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$88,646$43
    2Oregon$73,140$35
    3New York$71,860$35
    4Massachusetts$71,232$34
    5Washington$69,598$33
    6Minnesota$69,236$33
    7Mississippi$68,538$33
    8Illinois$67,976$33
    9Colorado$67,965$33
    10Texas$66,411$32
    11Arizona$66,118$32
    12Ohio$65,428$31
    13Florida$64,638$31
    14Nevada$64,388$31
    15Michigan$63,771$31
    16Indiana$63,295$30
    17District of Columbia$62,094$30
    18North Carolina$61,986$30
    19Georgia$61,962$30
    20Iowa$58,180$28

    Average construction project engineer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Abbott$93,282$44.859
    2Intel$90,244$43.39
    3Parsons$86,939$41.80286
    4Encompass Supply Chain Solutions, Inc.$80,439$38.67
    5California Institute of Technology$76,206$36.64
    6The Wonderful Company$76,054$36.563
    7P&S Surgical Hospital$75,313$36.21
    8Intertek$75,238$36.1722
    9Price Chopper Supermarkets-Market 32$73,686$35.43
    10Stanford Health Care$73,611$35.399
    11PMSI$73,582$35.384
    12Leidos$72,671$34.94144
    13Jacobs Engineering Group$72,603$34.91
    14UniFirst$72,531$34.87
    15Michels$71,731$34.4933
    16Walbridge$71,624$34.433
    17EXP$71,430$34.3441
    18Applied Medical Resources$71,429$34.34
    19Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (Semiconductor & Display)$70,624$33.956
    20Tutor Perini$70,285$33.7983
  4. Writing a construction project engineer job description

    A job description for a construction project engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a construction project engineer job description:

    Construction project engineer job description example

    At Hagerman we work, live, and do business with a distinct set of principles. It isn’t just what we do; it’s who we are. We’ve built a reputation for quality, integrity, and a passion for helping our community. We place a strong emphasis on teamwork. This means hiring the best people and doing whatever we can to help employees succeed. We offer a competitive salary, along with PTO and paid holidays, excellent health and welfare benefits, and 401k with company match.


    We have an immediate need for a seasoned Construction Project Engineer for our office in Fishers, IN.


    Ideal candidate will have a College Degree in Construction Management or similar discipline and at least one year of experience working in a related field of construction management with an A/E/C firm (internships included). Minimum 5 years of work experience, including at least one-year Construction experience in similar role, including internships or as a craft professional. Demonstrated effective verbal, written, and presentation skills. Demonstrated problem solving skills and critical thinking skills. Basic knowledge of various Construction software including those pertaining to Project Management (Procore preferred), Microsoft Suite, Accounting (Sage preferred), Scheduling (Asta or Project preferred), Modeling (Revit) and PDF Editing (Bluebeam). Proficiency in Microsoft Suite, especially Word and Excel. Basic knowledge of contract administration, Requests for Information, Schedule of Values, preparation and adjustment to monthly billings, preparation of bar chart schedules including predecessors, successors, constraints, float, and lags. Basic knowledge of AIA Contract(s): A401, A121, A111.


    Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.


    Qualified applicants who are offered a position must pass a pre-employment substance abuse test, or have an active CCS (or equivalent) status. This position does not include sponsorship for US Work Authorization.


    Notice to third parties: Please note that Hagerman does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, Hagerman will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Hagerman explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Hagerman.


    An Equal Opportunity Employer.

  5. Post your job

    To find construction project 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 project engineers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level construction project 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.
    To find construction project engineer candidates, you can consider the following options:
    • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
    • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
    • Post your job on free job posting websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with construction project 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 project engineer

    Once you have selected a candidate for the construction project 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.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new construction project engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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

How much does it cost to hire a construction project engineer?

Hiring a construction project engineer comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting construction project engineers 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 construction project engineer recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for construction project engineers is $68,635 in the US. However, the cost of construction project engineer hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a construction project engineer for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $25 and $41 an hour.

Find better construction project engineers in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring construction project engineers FAQs

Search for construction project engineer jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse architecture and engineering jobs