How to Become a Civil Engineering Technician

Interested in pursuing this career? You’ll find everything you need to know here — from typical duties to salary potential and how to get started.

Reviewed by Chris Leitch

Civil engineering technicians looking at a plan

Civil engineering technicians are part of one of the oldest industries out there. They are instrumental in the creation of some of the most famous and important infrastructure projects you can think of.

Civil engineering technicians require a wide suite of skills and can be involved in very technical projects; therefore, the role might appear very attractive, and with good cause! This article goes through what a civil engineering technician does, what the role is like, salary information, and what to do if you want to take the plunge and try your hand at this very rewarding profession.

What civil engineering technicians do

Civil engineering technicians offer technical support to civil engineers, who are usually in charge of the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure such as dams, bridges, highways and railways. They usually operate in engineering specialisms such as design or delivery, but typically the role encompasses a few key responsibilities:

  • Helping with surveying of sites and locations
  • Running engineering and technical calculations
  • Collecting and analyzing technical data
  • Preparing various reports for civil engineers and guiding them through these reports where needed
  • Producing models and diagrams using software such as computer-aided designs (CAD)
  • Working as project managers or assisting project managers with deadlines and priorities
  • Creating timescales, plans and strategies for the completion of civil engineering projects
  • Facilitating laboratory analysis of natural resources and materials, such as rock types or soil samples.
  • Coordinating resources such as deliveries and contractors
  • Troubleshooting issues and delays and helping with problem-solving where needed

What the job is like

Being a civil engineering technician offers a nice mix between regular desk duties and on-site responsibilities which might involve frequent visits to construction sites. As such, you’ll need to display flexibility as well as the attention to detail and accuracy that the job requires.

Work environment

When in the office, civil engineering technicians will need to work with the regular hazards you might find in any such workplace. These might include visual display unit adjustments, ensuring the use of an orthopedic chair, and being aware of stress hazards.

Field-based work is a little more unpredictable and will require the use of protective clothing.  Civil engineering technicians will spend long hours on construction sites, where there will be heavy machinery, exposed falls, loose ground, and other acute environmental risks. The outdoors nature of the role will involve exposure to all kinds of temperatures and weather conditions, from hot days in the sun with no shade to freezing rain and mud.

While managing these risks, civil engineering technicians must ensure they remain able to concentrate and focus as the role requires extreme accuracy, and attention to detail.

Work hours

Civil engineering technicians will work reasonably normal hours of around 40 per week in most circumstances. These hours might increase if a certain project is nearing completion or if there is a lot of work to get done on a particular day or week. The spread of work might vary, with some weeks longer than others, and longer days offering time in lieu.

Given that some civil engineering technicians might be employed through the government, a careful focus on work–life balance is generally followed in the public sector. Some civil engineering technicians might be expected to travel for work and, therefore, will need to spend long periods away from home.

Job satisfaction

Civil engineering technicians have reported that they consider their work to be of vital importance to society and that their contributions can make towns and cities better and safer. Indeed, according to data compiled by PayScale, 82% of interviewed civil engineering technicians remarked that their job is satisfying and meaningful.

Civil engineering technician roles offer only a satisfactory salary and limited responsibility on projects compared to lead civil engineers, but many people going into this job aspire to climb the industry’s career ladder, where salaries become a lot more competitive and you might have a chance to take the lead on exciting and complex projects.

Job market

As the world begins its recovery after the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many civil engineering projects are gathering pace as well as renewed investment in public works. As such, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the civil engineering job market will grow by 8% from 2020 to 2030, with the addition of 25,000 job openings per year over the decade.

The nature of public civil engineering projects means that, bar a major external force such as conflict or a pandemic, job prospects are stable and can grow over time. Most civil engineering technician roles are full time and permanent, with established and progressive career trajectories.

Salary

This section runs through the average wage of a civil engineering technician, as well as how the wages compare regionally, with seniority, and with other parts of the world.

Mean wage

The mean wage for civil engineering technicians is pretty much in line with the US national average wage of US$56,310. Having said this, there are large wage variances as discussed later on.

Mean annual wage

Mean hourly wage

$56,590

$27.21

Median wage by experience

The wide range between entry- and top-level civil engineering technicians is due to the varying complexities of the role, as well as the size of the projects the technicians might work on. Here’s a breakdown:

Experience

Median annual wage

Entry level

$34,230

Junior level

$40,850

Mid level

$54,080

Senior level

$68,350

Top level

$82,960

Mean wage by state

This table highlights the US states paying the highest salaries for civil engineering technicians:

State

Mean annual wage

Washington

$66,990

Minnesota

$67,790

Connecticut

$68,900

Oregon

$69,600

California

$72,070

Median wage around the world

The following table lists the median salaries for civil engineering technicians in other major English-speaking countries around the world:

Country

Median annual wage

Australia

AU$66,760 ($48,840)

Canada

C$56,530 ($44,730)

Ireland

€34,410 ($38,120)

New Zealand

NZ$55,160 ($37,420)

UK

£19,230 ($25,730)

Steps to become a civil engineering technician

So, if you have read through the above and have decided that becoming a civil engineering technician is the job for you, then what can you do to get started in this fascinating career?

1. Determine if it’s the right job for you

A good place to start with determining whether being a civil engineering technician is the right job for you is thinking about the skills needed for success in the role, as well as the behaviors and personality traits expected of you, and whether these align with who you are and what you are strong at. Typically, requirements of being a civil engineer are as follows:

  • Software management and CAD experience and knowledge
  • Mathematical skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Mechanical engineering skills (or other engineering specialism)
  • Exceptional communication skills and an ability to relate complex information in a simple way
  • Project management skills
  • Flexibility and positive mindset
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Teamwork skills

Taking a career assessment might also be a great way to see if you’re a good fit to the requirements of a civil engineering technician role. Our own assessment, CareerHunter, is a collection of six tests created by psychometricians and career experts designed to determine your psychological makeup with respect to career paths. Once you take these tests, you’ll get a report outlining which career suits you best, along with advice and training on how to work towards this goal.

2. Focus on the right subjects at school

The hard work to become a civil engineering technician begins at school.

The role requires excellent command of core subjects, such as math, English and science, especially physics. Other good subjects could be design and technology, as well as business studies. Sociology can also be useful when considering the impact that civil engineering projects can have on communities and people.

School is also a great time to start looking into work placements or work experience in civil engineering firms, which will give you a great head start when entering the industry.

3. Get formal education

Focusing on the right subjects at school can facilitate entry into a civil engineering degree. Many universities offer these, both at bachelor’s and master’s level.

Studying a civil engineering degree will require the use of statistics, engineering principles, mathematics and maybe elements of business or project management. Alternatively, you could focus on other degrees specializing in these areas, as they will also be desirable when applying for civil engineering technician roles.

Where possible, always look to study via an institution that offers industrial placement or internship programs, as these will give you valuable on-the-job training while you study.

4. Gain work experience

Getting work experience while at school is a great place to start; many will work one- or two-week placements into their curricula, and this is where you can contact civil engineering firms and ask to join them for a short period of time. Getting this experience on your résumé as early as possible is essential, as it will give you a great head start.

At university, work with the careers officer on civil engineering work placements, which might be for a little longer, such as six months to one year. Competition for these can be fierce, so ensure your résumé and experience are up to date and expertly put together. After university, search for internships, graduate schemes, or direct entry roles with civil engineering firms.  Once again, these opportunities will be competitive, but it’s your best chance to get a foothold on the civil engineering career ladder.

5. Get certified

Like many professions, civil engineering has many accreditation bodies, all of which provide certification. Being certified or accredited by a civil engineering body will really flesh out your résumé and make you immediately more employable. You can get on and work on these accreditations as soon as you graduate from university.

In the UK, the Institute of Civil Engineers offers several accreditation routes. Of particular interest to civil engineering technicians will be the technician engineer (EngTech) qualification, but there are many others, allowing you work up to a civil engineering fellowship.

The American Society of Civil Engineers, meanwhile, offers several long- and short-term qualifications designed to keep your career going, as well as focusing on specialism courses, which might also increase earning potential. In short, the civil engineering industry is one in which you can expect to be able to grow for as long as you want to.

Final thoughts

Becoming a civil engineering technician is an incredibly rewarding role, allowing you to contribute to massive and potentially world-famous infrastructure projects. Not only this, but the role can pay well, has incredible career growth opportunities, and can allow you to travel the world.

Expect to work hard as a civil engineering technician. The role requires excellent command of many subjects at school, and you will need to acquire a university degree, at least at bachelor’s level. Not only this, but getting a head start on work experience and civil engineering qualifications will be necessary for you to make the most out of this career. But hard work will always pay off, and the rewards of civil engineering are tangible, large-scale, and can help society as a whole. Good luck!

Got a question about becoming a civil engineering technician? Let us know in the comments section below.

 

Originally published in June 2014.