Civil Engineering graduates earn $86,517 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 8.1%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Engineering Teachers is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
Civil Engineering is a focused area of study within Engineering. Graduates typically earn around $86,517 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. The program is available at 326 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 20,728 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$69,424
Median Earnings · 4yr
$86,517
Colleges Offering
326
Graduates / Year
20,728
Avg Net Price / yr
$16,509
How Much Do Civil Engineering Graduates Earn?
Civil Engineering graduates earn $86,517 four years out, well above average for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $73,883 and $101,174.
$69,424
1 Year After Graduation
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$86,517
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$85,076
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a moderate earnings spread across Civil Engineering graduates. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$73,88325th pct.
$86,517Median
$101,17475th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $86,517 against an estimated $66,036 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 313 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 20,728 students who complete Civil Engineering programs each year, the majority (69%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
69%24%
Bachelor's69%
Master's24%
Doctorate6%
What Can You Do With a Civil Engineering Degree?
Civil Engineering connects to 6 occupations in the job market. Architectural & Engineering Manager leads at $171,270/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingSystems AnalysisSystems Evaluation
Day-to-day responsibilities
Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.
Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Active ListeningWritingSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoring
Day-to-day responsibilities
Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.
Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
Complex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingCritical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.
Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
Judgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.
Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
Top Colleges for Civil Engineering
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Civil Engineering students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Civil Engineering program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Civil Engineering a solid option. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $86,517 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +8.1% over the next decade, with Engineering Teachers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 46,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
High upside potentialTop earners (75th percentile) in this program reach $101,174, a strong ceiling for high performers.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Civil Engineering graduates earn a national median of $86,517 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $73,883 and $101,174. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Civil Engineering degree?
One year after graduation, Civil Engineering degree holders earn a median of $69,424. That climbs to $86,517 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree?
Civil Engineering degree holders pursue careers including Architectural & Engineering Manager, which pays a median of $171,270/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Civil Engineering program take?
A Civil Engineering bachelor's degree typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years for students who want a faster path into the workforce.
How many colleges offer Civil Engineering?
326 colleges and universities in the United States offer Civil Engineering programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Civil Engineering degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $86,517 and an average net price of roughly $16,509/yr, a Civil Engineering degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Civil Engineering and Engineering?
Civil Engineering is a focused concentration within the broader Engineering field. The Engineering major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Civil Engineering-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Civil Engineering graduates?
Employers hiring Civil Engineering graduates consistently prioritize analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework.
Is graduate school worth it for Civil Engineering graduates?
In STEM fields, a master's degree can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential, depending on specialization. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Civil Engineering graduates?
The job outlook for Civil Engineering graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +3.8% job growth over the next 10 years. Engineering Teachers is among the strongest-growth roles at +8.1%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Engineering Programs
Other programs in Engineering. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
