Physical, chemical and engineering science technicians

How to become a civil engineering technician

Official title: Civil engineering technicians

Also called: Building inspector, Building surveyor, Civil engineering technician, Clerk of works, Fire inspector, Fire prevention specialist, Geotechnical technician, Surveying technician

Civil engineering technicians perform technical tasks in civil engineering research and in the design, construction, operation, maintenance and repair of buildings and other structures such as water supply and wastewater treatment systems, bridges, roads, dams and airports.

Main tasks

Performing or assisting with field and laboratory tests of soils and construction materials
Providing technical assistance connected with the construction of buildings and other structures, and with surveys or the preparation of survey reports
Ensuring compliance with design specifications, relevant legislation and regulations, and maintenance of desired standards of materials and work
Applying technical knowledge of building and civil engineering principles and practices in order to identify and solve problems arising
Assisting with the preparation of detailed estimates of quantities and costs of materials and labour required for projects, according to the specifications given
Organizing maintenance and repairs
Inspecting buildings and structures during and after construction to ensure that they comply with building, grading, zoning and safety laws and approved plans, specifications and standards, as well as with other rules concerning quality and safety of buildings
Inspecting industrial plant, hotels, cinemas and other buildings and structures to detect fire hazards and advise on how they can be removed
Advising on the installation of fire detectors and sprinkler systems and the use of materials in the construction of buildings, and means of transportation to reduce risk of fire and extent of damage and danger if fire occurs

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: HK$27,000 a month
About 1,542,900 people in 2025, and about 1,639,100 projected by 2028. (+6.2%)
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Questions people ask

Do you need a degree to become a civil engineering technician?

Not always. 41% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a civil engineering technician?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026