Drafters, Engineering Technicians, and Mapping Technicians

How to become a Civil Engineering Technologist or Technician

Official title: Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Also called: Civil Designer, Civil Engineering Assistant, Civil Engineering Technician, Design Technician, Engineer Technician, Engineering Assistant, Engineering Technician, Transportation Engineering Technician

Apply theory and principles of civil engineering in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of structures and facilities under the direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.

Main tasks

Calculate dimensions, square footage, profile and component specifications, and material quantities, using calculator or computer.
Read and review project blueprints and structural specifications to determine dimensions of structure or system and material requirements.
Draft detailed dimensional drawings and design layouts for projects to ensure conformance to specifications.
Confer with supervisor to determine project details such as plan preparation, acceptance testing, and evaluation of field conditions.
Analyze proposed site factors and design maps, graphs, tracings, and diagrams to illustrate findings.
Prepare reports and document project activities and data.
Report maintenance problems occurring at project site to supervisor and negotiate changes to resolve system conflicts.

How to become one

An associate's degree, preferably in civil engineering technology, is typically required to enter the occupation.

Typical education to start: Associate's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Civil Engineering Technician (Nof).
Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General; Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians; Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $64,950 a year The middle half earn $51,490 to $80,650.
About 70,900 people work in this job now, and about 73,200 are projected by 2035. (+3.2%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Civil Engineering Technologist or Technician?

An associate's degree, preferably in civil engineering technology, is typically required to enter the occupation.

How much does a Civil Engineering Technologist or Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $64,950 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $51,490 to $80,650.

Is a Civil Engineering Technologist or Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 70,900 to about 73,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Civil Engineering Technologist or Technician?

Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree; Civil Engineering Technician (Nof).

Will AI change the work of a Civil Engineering Technologist or Technician?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.