Construction Engineering Tech graduates earn $93,843 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 9.1%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Construction Managers is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Construction Engineering Tech as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Engineering Tech and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Construction Engineering Tech is a focused area of study within Engineering Tech. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $93,843 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 164 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 4,771 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$72,240
Median Earnings · 4yr
$93,843
Colleges Offering
164
Graduates / Year
4,771
Avg Net Price / yr
$14,154
How Much Do Construction Engineering Tech Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Construction Engineering Tech, a typical graduate earns $93,843, well above average for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $77,403 and $111,740, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$93,843
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$92,524
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Construction Engineering Tech graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$77,40325th pct.
$93,843Median
$111,74075th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $93,843 against an estimated $56,616 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 70 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 4,771 students who complete Construction Engineering Tech programs each year, the majority (65%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
65%
Bachelor's65%
Associate's18%
Master's13%
What Can You Do With a Construction Engineering Tech Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Construction Engineering Tech graduates show up in 3 different occupations, and Construction Managers pay the most at $114,990/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Management of Personnel ResourcesJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningCoordinationComplex Problem Solving
Day-to-day responsibilities
Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.
Inspect or review projects to monitor compliance with building and safety codes or other regulations.
Develop or implement quality control programs.
Plan, schedule, or coordinate construction project activities to meet deadlines.
Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.
Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
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.
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.
Top Colleges for Construction Engineering Tech
Not sure where to study Construction Engineering Tech? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Construction Engineering Tech graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Engineering Tech Programs
Construction Engineering Tech is not the only path through Engineering Tech: 18 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Construction Engineering Tech 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 Construction Engineering Tech 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 $93,843 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +9.1% over the next decade, with Construction Managers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 73,400 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
High upside potentialTop earners (75th percentile) in this program reach $111,740, a strong ceiling for high performers.
CONS
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Construction Engineering Tech Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Construction Engineering Tech graduates earn?
$93,843 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $77,403 and $111,740, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Construction Engineering Tech degree?
$72,240 in the first year out. That grows to $93,843 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Construction Engineering Tech degree?
Construction Managers are one path, and it pays a median of $114,990 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Construction Engineering Tech program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Construction Engineering Tech bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Construction Engineering Tech?
164 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Construction Engineering Tech degree worth it?
$93,843 median earnings four years out against $14,154 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Construction Engineering Tech and Engineering Tech?
Construction Engineering Tech is the narrower of the two: Engineering Tech covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Construction Engineering Tech-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Construction Engineering Tech graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Construction Engineering Tech graduates consistently look for analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Construction Engineering Tech graduates?
Usually worth considering. A master's in a STEM field 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. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Construction Engineering Tech graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +3.1% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Construction Managers are among the strongest-growth roles at +9.1%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Engineering Tech Programs
Other programs in Engineering Tech. 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
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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.
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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.
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