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How to hire a highway engineer

Highway engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring highway engineers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a highway engineer is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new highway engineer to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a highway engineer, step by step

To hire a highway 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 highway engineer:

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

What does a highway engineer do?

Highway Engineers are responsible for the design and implementation of road network projects. They are involved in road network maintenance, local road schemes designing, supervising construction teams, preparing tender contract documents, and administering risk assessments. Other duties include preparing construction cost estimates and ensuring health and safety directives are adhered to and prepare the project budget. Highway engineers also work with multi-stakeholders such as transport specialists, the public, and the client to deliver within the timeline.

Learn more about the specifics of what a highway engineer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The highway 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?

    A highway engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, highway 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.

    This list presents highway engineer salaries for various positions.

    Type of Highway EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Highway 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.$26-44
    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
    Civil DesignerA 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
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Autocad
    • Highway Design
    • Civil 3D
    • CAD
    • Engineering Design
    • Roadway Design
    • Highway Projects
    • Project Design
    • Preliminary Design
    • Project Development
    • Hec Ras
    • Plan Preparation
    • Rehabilitation
    • Engineering Services
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
    • Utilize a number of highway design and planning programs, COGO, AutoCAD, and hand computers.
    • Supervise and perform geotechnical work as soil sampling, core sampling, etc.
    • Design of one interchange design (plan, profile and gore area grading).
    • Design horizontal and vertical alignments of highways using AutoCAD.
    • Profile roadway alignments, calculation of quantities for engineering estimates.
    More highway engineer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the highway engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A highway engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a highway engineer in Tennessee may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level highway engineer. Additionally, a highway engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average highway engineer salary

    $71,538yearly

    $34.39 hourly rate

    Entry-level highway engineer salary
    $55,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 21, 2026

    Average highway engineer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$96,319$46
    2New York$74,647$36
    3Washington$74,335$36
    4Maine$72,406$35
    5Delaware$71,878$35
    6Massachusetts$71,834$35
    7Hawaii$71,706$34
    8New Jersey$70,602$34
    9Indiana$70,023$34
    10Rhode Island$68,224$33
    11Florida$67,912$33
    12Texas$67,825$33
    13Pennsylvania$67,705$33
    14Illinois$66,933$32
    15New Hampshire$66,877$32
    16Louisiana$66,122$32
    17Maryland$65,090$31
    18West Virginia$63,356$30
    19Ohio$62,209$30
    20Nebraska$61,259$29

    Average highway engineer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Parsons$81,901$39.38294
    2RS&H$79,802$38.3733
    3Whitman$78,631$37.8064
    4EXP$76,853$36.9535
    5STV Group$75,752$36.4220
    6Ch2M Hill$75,347$36.22
    7Wsp USA Buildings Inc.$75,335$36.22647
    8Century Engineering$75,315$36.21
    9Mccormick Taylor, Inc.$75,079$36.1014
    10Colliers Engineering & Design$75,063$36.09
    11Cummins$74,256$35.70
    12Stantec$74,231$35.69559
    13Jacobs Engineering Group$74,164$35.662
    14Larson Design Group$73,799$35.4868
    15HNTB$73,357$35.27157
    16Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission$73,316$35.25
    17Jacobs Enterprises$73,232$35.21578
    18SJB Services, Inc / Empire Geo Services, Inc.$73,231$35.21
    19P B Holdings$73,231$35.21
    20URS E&C Holdings Inc$73,231$35.21
  4. Writing a highway engineer job description

    A highway engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a highway engineer job description:

    Highway engineer job description example

    YOUR IMPACT

    CHA's highway professionals have planned, developed, and provided solutions to municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations, public and private authorities, and state transportation agencies for nearly 70 years. Addressing the immediate travel needs and expectations of today's society and anticipating the mobility and modal challenges and opportunities that will accompany our next generation requires comprehensive planning, engineering, and implementation.

    At CHA, our Highway Engineers provide advanced judgment and analysis techniques for the design development, implementation, and technical analysis of various systems to implement new products, or changes to an existing scheme, to suit individual client needs. This key role is responsible for planning, scheduling, conducting, and coordinating detailed phases of a project independently with other engineering disciplines and project management staff. The Highway Engineer mentors junior staff members and provides technical review of their work as needed.

    The Highway Engineer recommends alterations to development and design to improve quality of products and/or procedures as well as selects proper procedures to self-check his/her own work for completeness and accuracy in technical reports and calculations. The Highway Engineer identifies, develops, and gathers technical resources necessary to complete assignments, and continuously monitors the progress and performance of the engineering design development against the project work plan.

    At CHA, you can build a career and find your passion across our diverse business lines and project teams. Being part of CHA means being part of a team of talented professionals, where you'll find support for your career growth and the opportunity to impact our industry and our communities. Find your “why” at CHA!

    REQUIREMENTS
    • Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering required
    • Professional Engineer (PE) license required
    • Minimum of 4 years of discipline specific engineering experience required
    • Demonstrates a strong knowledge of the respective engineering discipline with the proven ability to practically apply engineering best practices
    • Advanced proficiency with engineering, computational, and modeling software (Revit, AutoCAD, MicroStation, etc.)
    • Familiar with QA/QC procedures and understands basic business practices and laws related to engineering
    • Ability to demonstrate leadership skills and effectively work in a collaborative environment
    • Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt communication style to suit various audiences
    • Proficiency with MS Office software required
    CULTURE/EEO STATEMENT

    At CHA, we are helping to build a world where thought leadership, social responsibility, and diversity thrive, and we are committed to recruiting, developing, and retaining a highly talented and diverse team of individuals to help us do it. Our aspiration to responsibly improve the world we live in - combined with hiring practices, training opportunities, and engagement with our communities - reflect a company culture that is progressive and forward leaning.

    We as an organization celebrate the values of inclusion and equality, and advocate for the full participation of all people in an environment free of discrimination. To support these values, we invite all qualified applicants to be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

    #LI-Hybrid

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find highway engineers for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    To find highway 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

    During your first interview to recruit highway engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 highway engineer

    Once you've decided on a perfect highway engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new highway 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 highway engineer?

Recruiting highway engineers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $71,538 per year for a highway engineer, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for highway engineers in the US typically range between $26 and $44 an hour.

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