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Job outlook for geotechnical engineers in the United States
Geotechnical engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected geotechnical engineer job growth rate is 7% from 2018-2028.
About 22,100 new jobs for geotechnical engineers are projected over the next decade.
Geotechnical engineer salaries have increased 6% for geotechnical engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 5,213 geotechnical engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 15,062 active geotechnical engineer job openings in the US.
The average geotechnical engineer salary is $74,831.
Are geotechnical engineer jobs in demand?
Geotechnical engineer job and salary trends over time
Geotechnical engineer jobs over time
Geotechnical engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,213 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,154 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 5,325 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 5,242 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 5,120 | 0.00% |
Average geotechnical engineer salary over time
Geotechnical engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $74,831 | $35.98 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $73,555 | $35.36 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $73,200 | $35.19 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $71,620 | $34.43 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $70,581 | $33.93 | +1.6% |
Geotechnical engineer jobs by state
Most common states for geotechnical engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 230 | 33% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 718 | 8% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 78 | 8% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 60 | 8% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 438 | 7% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 384 | 7% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 289 | 7% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 471 | 6% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 62 | 6% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 47 | 6% |
| 11 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,864 | 5% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 368 | 5% |
| 13 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 147 | 5% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 93 | 5% |
| 15 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 72 | 5% |
| 16 | Vermont | 623,657 | 34 | 5% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 30 | 5% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 276 | 4% |
| 19 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 186 | 4% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 59 | 4% |
Most common cities for geotechnical engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelmsford | 6 | 18% | $74,506 |
| 2 | Denver | 19 | 3% | $74,840 |
| 3 | Anchorage | 8 | 3% | $99,890 |
| 4 | Baton Rouge | 7 | 3% | $72,489 |
| 5 | Kansas City | 5 | 3% | $64,168 |
| 6 | Minneapolis | 10 | 2% | $74,161 |
| 7 | Sacramento | 9 | 2% | $89,360 |
| 8 | New Orleans | 6 | 2% | $72,211 |
| 9 | Chandler | 5 | 2% | $74,517 |
| 10 | Irvine | 5 | 2% | $83,530 |
| 11 | Des Moines | 4 | 2% | $66,196 |
| 12 | Fort Collins | 4 | 2% | $74,814 |
| 13 | Boston | 9 | 1% | $74,566 |
| 14 | Jacksonville | 5 | 1% | $66,335 |
| 15 | Tampa | 5 | 1% | $65,639 |
| 16 | Tucson | 5 | 1% | $74,110 |
| 17 | Atlanta | 4 | 1% | $62,001 |
| 18 | Phoenix | 7 | 0% | $74,619 |
Geotechnical Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of geotechnical engineer experts
Michigan Technological University
University of Utah
University of Miami
George Fox University
Pace University
Alabama A&M University
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown
Oregon State University
Oklahoma State University
Villanova University
University of Alaska Anchorage
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Boise State University
University of Houston/Clear Lake
Northeastern University
Sweet Briar College
Embry-Riddle, Prescott
What general advice would you give to a Geotechnical Engineer?
Dr. John Gierke: Interests in geology and earth processes and working outside are the common elements that all geological engineers admit are the 'draws' to the discipline. Many of our students also enjoy being a student in a small department where everyone knows each other, including the faculty. The flip side of being a small discipline is a lack of discipline-specific professional attributes, such as professional licensure. There is no geological engineering discipline-specific professional engineering exam, graduates and professionals must take the exam in a cognate discipline, like civil engineering, or in general engineering. The flip side of 'getting' to be outdoors is the travel and work in remote, sometimes harsh, environments. Lastly, the cyclic nature of commodity industries, like metals, minerals, and petroleum, sometimes results in abrupt career changes during downturns. Despite the fluctuations, however, the geological engineering discipline is broad and professionals are well prepared to apply their knowledge and skills honed in one subdiscipline to another.
What Geotechnical Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. John Gierke: Geological engineers primarily work on earth resources (petroleum, minerals, groundwater) development projects, including exploration. Geological engineers also work in construction projects dealing with earth materials, such as dams, foundations, and the stability of slopes. Entry-level geological engineers primarily are involved in field work, interpreting rock and soil samples, collecting samples, and geotechnical testing, among other field-testing activities. With time they evolve into positions that use data from the field in designing systems and making decisions regarding resource development and earthen construction.
What will help Geotechnical Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. John Gierke: The geological engineering profession is a very small discipline. In the U.S., there exist only 13 accredited programs. Despite the small number of programs, enrollments in geological engineering are also few compared to more-widely known engineering disciplines. Geological engineers provide unique knowledge and skills to earth resource projects, so the demand for professionals typically exceeds the supply. Therefore, from a professional outlook perspective, there is always a good time to graduate as a geological engineer as long as graduates are flexible in terms of the industry they prefer. During downturns in petroleum or particular minerals/metals, opportunities in those industries can experience pauses, but typically there are always opportunities in construction, water resources development, slope stability, and aggregate resource development.
Jeff Moore
University of Utah
Metallurgical Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Geotechnical Engineer?
Jeff Moore: New engineers will learn a lot of practical skills quickly on the job, so come ready to learn. Your university education provides the fundamentals, but as you start your career be prepared for a whole new phase of practical on the job learning. Try to get exposure to many different projects and analyses, create a commitment to lifelong learning and growing your technical skills.
What Geotechnical Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jeff Moore: Fundamentals never go out of style. A solid education rooted in theory and fundamental understanding of their materials gives geological engineers the ability to flexibly adapt to a changing workplace and landscape, including working with new geo-construction materials and new analysis / numerical modeling solutions. Looking to the near future, I foresee a growing focus on geologic and seismic hazards becoming increasingly desirable in the workforce.
What will help Geotechnical Engineers increase their earning potential?
Jeff Moore: Geological engineers entering the workforce should be prepared to work hard, stay committed to their job and team, and jump at opportunities to take on new responsibilities. Be team player but also proficient working independently, and lastly work on becoming a good writer!
What general advice would you give to a Geotechnical Engineer?
Joseph Reichenberger PE [CA AZ HI NM NV], BCEE, F.ASCE: The Civil Engineering profession is different then many professions as there are many sub-
disciplines to enter such as structures, environmental, water resources, land development, ports
and harbors, water and wastewater treatment, solid waste management, geotechnical (dams,
levees, foundations), transportation (light rail, heavy rail, airports, roads, multi-modal, etc.),
traffic, construction and others. Many civil engineers will change their sub-disciplines as their
interests change and the "market" changes. For example, there was no "Superfund" and
environmental clean-up in the early 1980s. This created the environmental mitigation sub-
discipline. So civil engineers do not have to remain stagnant.
Civil engineers can work in an office or be outdoors working in construction or a combination of
both. That is attractive. It is also an occupation where you serve the public and there are great
opportunities to using their creative skill to improve society and the environment with their
projects. Our projects are now emphasizing sustainability, which is attracting a lot of young
people into the profession.
I don't know anyone that dislikes civil engineering. I have been practicing for 60 years and enjoy
it. I still teach full time and take on a wide variety of consulting projects in the water, wastewater
and recycled water areas. If an individual does not like a particular subdiscipline, they can
change. Our education, mandated by our accrediting agency ABET, requires graduates to be
proficient in a minimum of 4 sub-disciplines; so graduates have the basic skills if they want to
change. Many, as they advance in their careers, start their own civil engineering consulting
company - work for themselves, or construction and land development companies. There are
many of these opportunities.
It is also a profession where you can branch out of civil engineering. Several of our graduates
have gone into law (patent, environmental, construction); we have had a few employed by the
large financial corporations like Ernst and Young.
What Geotechnical Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Joseph Reichenberger PE [CA AZ HI NM NV], BCEE, F.ASCE: Infrastructure is on the minds of governments and funding agencies have supported
infrastructure. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in November 2021,
authorized $1.2 trillion dollars for a variety of infrastructure projects.
From: https://home.treasury.gov/news/featured-stories/infrastructure-investment-in-the-united-states
Civil engineers are involved in most if not all of these types of projects. So the job market for
civil engineers for the near term is excellent.
Afifa Mushtaque in an article published 03102024 entitled "20 Highest Paying Countries for Civil
Engineers" https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/20-highest-paying-countries-for-civil-engineers-
1271941/, stated the global civil engineering market is looking for major growth as $13.7 trillion
dollars is expected by 2030 and forecasts a compound annual growth rate of nearly 6% from
2023 to 2030.
Civil engineering has generally always been a good field for jobs. Civil engineering jobs tend to
follow the housing market so it is not all roses. There was a significant reduction in employment
for civil engineers, along with many others in the early 1980s and recently in the recession in
2010 or so. But the recovery has been substantial and continuing as stated above.
We are blessed with an influx of well prepared, young graduates with skills in the latest
technology replacing retiring civil engineers. Our typical class here at Loyola Marymount
University (LMU) typically has 30 to 40% women. It is a great profession for women and work
force is quite diverse.
Esber Andiroglu PhD, PE, LEED AP
Associate Professor of Practice, Dept. of Civil & Architectural Engineering, Director of Construction Management ProgramsUniversity of Miami
Architectural Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Geotechnical Engineer?
Esber Andiroglu PhD, PE, LEED AP: Interdisciplinary and transformative design and construction approaches; integration of emerging technological innovations into practice; integration of software tools into everyday problem solving; solid knowledge about smart systems and AI applications; good understanding and ability to use data analytics
Ben Giudice Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Civil EngineeringGeorge Fox University
Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering
What soft skills should all Geotechnical Engineers possess?
Ben Giudice Ph.D.: Soft skills are vital in civil engineering, and the ones that are most important at the early stages of people's careers include both written and oral communication. Writing memos and reports, emails, talking to people in the field or on the phone - all of these are incredibly important to civil engineering.
James Albrecht
Professor of Criminal Justice and Homeland Security, retired NYPD Captain/Commanding OfficerPace University
Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Department
What skills stand out on Geotechnical Engineer resumes?
James Albrecht: Obviously, civil engineers have to possess a comprehensive and advanced understanding of architecture, physics, mathematics, engineering, and drafting skills, but 9-11 and even climate change have added other concerns to the field of civil engineering. Engineers now have to consider the need for safeguarding against terrorist events, natural disasters, rioting, and other man-made occurrences. As such, target hardening options must be considered, particularly when building in highly trafficked urban areas, when designing or renovating government buildings and public infrastructure, in tourist destinations, and in a hurricane, tornado, or other inclement weather prone zones. If one plans to work on projects in these areas or regions, it would be practical and realistic to take courses in critical infrastructure and safeguard national infrastructure offered by the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and other public-private organizations.
What soft skills should all Geotechnical Engineers possess?
James Albrecht: Never underestimate having effective "people skills." You must be able to listen, communicate and express yourself in a competent and empathetic manner. Asking questions for more specific insight into project objectives and posing your own questions that delineate target hardening options to clients and potential customers will add the necessary human touch, not only to the field of civil engineering but to any profession.
Pooja Preetha Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorAlabama A&M University
Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
What skills stand out on Geotechnical Engineer resumes?
Pooja Preetha Ph.D.: According to my previous experiences, they are a combination of soft skills like creative thinking, problem-solving and hard skills like strong math and project management with the knowledge of tools like AutoCAD and GIS.
What's a good job out of college for Geotechnical Engineers?
Brian L Houston: Any Civil Engineering position related to design, testing or field control (project management, etc..) seems worthwhile. The best answer would be any job that allows a graduate to advance in their professional development, while affording them the opportunity to increase productivity and reduce risk for their employer.
How do you envision technology impacting Geotechnical Engineers in the next 5 years?
David Blunck Ph.D.: The emergence of 3-D printing is revolutionizing the field of mechanical engineering. Engineers can design parts that are much less expensive and have much more outstanding performance. As engineers, we have known for many years how to improve products' performance, but we have been limited by the ability to manufacture components. This barrier is being removed and enabling us to realize things that we only dreamed of creating a few years ago.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Geotechnical Engineers?
David Blunck Ph.D.: I certainly expect that there to be an enduring impact, for better and worse. I hope that graduates will be better equipped to use technology in communicating and working in teams. I expect graduates to be more resilient and be more adept at working remotely and using engineering tools. This will ultimately enable more distributed teams of engineers to work together across the globe. I also see the pandemic as helping more virtual learning opportunities for graduates (e.g., certificates) and future engineering students (e.g., more online degrees). For worse, I worry that students may not gain hands-on experience that can help design and build products. Moreover, recent graduates may not be as experienced in conducting experiments or collecting data.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Geotechnical Engineers?
Norb Delatte Ph.D.: I believe that employment in civil engineering will recover quickly. Actually, hiring has remained strong throughout the crisis.
What's a good job out of college for Geotechnical Engineers?
Norb Delatte Ph.D.: Civil engineering offers a wide variety of jobs in both the public sector and private sector. Public sector includes state transportation agencies and city and local engineering offices. Private sector jobs include consulting firms and construction.
Eric Musselman Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department Chair, Civil and Environmental EngineeringVillanova University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Geotechnical Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Eric Musselman Ph.D.: I think one big trend in Civil Engineering resulting from the pandemic will revolve around the changing workplace. Companies will be looking to either modify existing spaces or purchase new spaces to better accommodate their needs as more employees work from home at least part of the time. This will likely result in significant changes to land development and building design.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Geotechnical Engineers to find work opportunities?
Scott Hamel: Alaska! Despite abbreviated drops in oil prices, hiring continues to be very strong for Civil Engineering graduates. Large scale infrastructure and military project spending tends to lag recessions by a few years, and so construction has continued to be strong through the pandemic. Post-pandemic federal stimulus spending will likely continue this strength and it's possible there will be no dip in the AEC industry at all. Climate change and the opening of the northwest passage has caused a renewed interest in the arctic, spurring infrastructure investment in Ports and transportation infrastructure. In addition, Baby Boomers continue to retire in large numbers, leaving a lot of opportunity for capable young engineers in the 49th state.
Hani Alzraiee Ph.D., P. Eng., PMP.
Assistant Professor, Construction Engineering Co-Director of Granite Heavy Civil MinorCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Geotechnical Engineers?
Hani Alzraiee Ph.D., P. Eng., PMP.: Indeed, Covid-19 is impacting and will have an impact on the construction sector for the coming two to four years. Most of the current projects were planned and approved for funding before the pandemic hit the world, and that's why we still see construction activities around us. But the big question is how many projects have been approved for funding in the past seven months? With the current decline in the economy and budget cuts across all sectors, the effect of the pandemic on construction will be visible in the coming three years. Currently, graduates in the area of construction are receiving job offers - some are getting three or four offers - and some graduates have their offers rescinded. The market is surviving now because of the projects that were in the pipe before the pandemic hit the world.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Geotechnical Engineers?
Shannon Bartelt-Hunt Ph.D.: Students graduating now must demonstrate more flexibility and adaptability than ever before. Some summer internships were postponed or canceled, providing less training opportunities. For civil engineering, we don't foresee a long term impact on job placement for our graduates. The pandemic highlights how public health and infrastructure are related, and we anticipate more infrastructure-focused jobs being created in the future.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Geotechnical Engineers?
Dr. Bret Lingwall Ph.D.: No. The pandemic was timed with a recession, creating a low market for new graduates right now. However, like all economic downturns, the pandemic will pass, and the private sector will recover. The good news for civil engineers is that the public sector is broadly poised to continue making significant infrastructure investments. This means that the jobs market will be resilient in civil engineering. When you take the long view, difficult times happen every decade or so. The market always recovers and graduates continuously adapt. You have to think of the pandemic as an opportunity rather than a challenge.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Geotechnical Engineers?
Nick Hudyma PhD PE: The infrastructure industry, which includes planning, design, and construction, was initially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. States and counties had different levels of restrictions regarding construction, which caused some uncertainty within the industry. I believe the infrastructure industry is back to normal, and we are looking forward to a bright future. I do not believe there will be an enduring impact of the coronavirus on civil engineering graduates. Civil engineers are always in demand, and our job outlook and growth has always been slow but steady.
What type of skills will young Geotechnical Engineers need?
Nick Hudyma PhD PE: Civil engineering is a technical discipline that is founded in mathematics, physics, and the natural sciences. Technical skills have always been, and will continue to be, important. The coronavirus pandemic has shown us the importance of professional skills. Civil engineers must be able to communicate effectively, using a range of techniques to a wide variety of audiences.
In my opinion, visualization skills will begin to become very important. I can envision a coupled work environment, having technical analyses and designs working behind the scenes with visualizations being presented to clients. Civil engineers will need to present their work, not using traditional 2D blueprints and plan sets, but using 3D and 4D visualizations, which will include either virtual reality or augmented reality. This is especially important as our designs become more complex, and we continue in-fill development in dense urban areas.
What experience really stands out on Geotechnical Engineer resumes?
Nick Hudyma PhD PE: Internship and coop experiences have always stood out on resumes. I believe students should augment their resumes with a civil engineering portfolio. When students showcase their academic work, especially analysis and design projects, to potential employers, they will have a much more engaging conversation during their interviews.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Geotechnical Engineers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Thomas L. Harman: Computer Engineering, which combines aspects of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has been important in every advance in electronics technology over many decades. Examples include Personal Computers, the internet, the Internet of Things, and many medical applications and advances. Designing and maintaining these systems and products requires a thorough knowledge of modern hardware and software available to a designer.
Therefore, areas of the country with technical hubs for innovation are likely places for employment.
Link
Houston:
Top industries/employers: aeronautics, tourism, science, technology, medicine and healthcare, research, energy, renewable resources (wind, solar), manufacturing, transportation, education, oilfield equipment, entertainment and media, fashion, banking, real estate, distribution, and transportation.
Houston has manufacturing, medical, and space industries that rival any city in the U.S.
Houston, Austin, and Dallas/Fort Worth are cities in Texas.
What are the best companies to work for a Geotechnical Engineer?
Nik Brown Ph.D.: Small companies, labs, or think tanks are given a lot of responsibility as a recent graduate.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Geotechnical Engineers to find work opportunities?
Nik Brown Ph.D.: Now, more than ever, there has been an acceptance of remote work and tech opportunities everywhere in the U.S. Some industries, like finance, are NYC-centric, and film and animation LA centric, but tech is around. For a new graduate, be open to living and working in a new place. Be willing to move to a great job.
Bethany Brinkman
Associate Professor and DirectorSweet Briar College
Margaret Jones Wyllie ’45 Engineering Program
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Geotechnical Engineers to find work opportunities?
Bethany Brinkman: Historically, many of our graduates have gone to work for larger companies or government sub-contractors; however, during the pandemic, we saw many of these opportunities disappear due to hiring freezes or program reductions. Smaller, local companies stepped up and were more flexible in their hiring practices, so they could provide socially distant internships and employment. I think this is where Sweet Briar's general engineering degree is very helpful - our students have a broad base of knowledge, can adapt quickly, and communicate well, so they thrive in challenging circumstances.
Andy Gerrick
Associate Professor and ChairEmbry-Riddle, Prescott
Department of Mechanical Engineering
How do you envision technology impacting Geotechnical Engineers in the next 5 years?
Andy Gerrick: Artificial intelligence will render many careers obsolete. I believe it will have a tremendous effect on engineering, but rather than replacing engineers, it will become our most valuable tool. I tell my students that many smart people predict the machines will become smarter than us and take over the world. However, I predict the last thing the machines will master is creativity, so the artists and the engineers will be the last ones standing.