Construction Engineering Tech graduates earn $93,843 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 8.7%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Construction Managers is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
Construction Engineering Tech is a focused area of study within Engineering Tech. Graduates typically earn around $93,843 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. The program is available at 164 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 4,771 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
$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?
Construction Engineering Tech graduates earn $93,843 four years out, well above average for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $77,403 and $111,740.
$72,240
1 Year After Graduation
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
There is a moderate earnings spread across Construction Engineering Tech 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.
$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?
Construction Engineering Tech connects to 3 occupations in the job market. Construction Managers leads at $114,990/yr median. Expand any card 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
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Construction Engineering Tech students they graduate 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 one of 19 specializations within Engineering Tech. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
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 +8.7% over the next decade, with Construction Managers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 69,200 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?
Construction Engineering Tech graduates earn a national median of $93,843 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $77,403 and $111,740. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Construction Engineering Tech degree?
One year after graduation, Construction Engineering Tech degree holders earn a median of $72,240. That climbs to $93,843 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Construction Engineering Tech degree?
Construction Engineering Tech degree holders pursue careers including Construction Managers, which pays a median of $114,990/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Construction Engineering Tech program take?
A Construction Engineering Tech 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 Construction Engineering Tech?
164 colleges and universities in the United States offer Construction Engineering Tech programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Construction Engineering Tech degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $93,843 and an average net price of roughly $14,154/yr, a Construction Engineering Tech 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 Construction Engineering Tech and Engineering Tech?
Construction Engineering Tech is a focused concentration within the broader Engineering Tech field. The Engineering Tech major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Construction Engineering Tech-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 Construction Engineering Tech graduates?
Employers hiring Construction Engineering Tech 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 Construction Engineering Tech 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 Construction Engineering Tech graduates?
The job outlook for Construction Engineering Tech graduates is slow overall. Related occupations project an average of +2.2% job growth over the next 10 years. Construction Managers is among the strongest-growth roles at +8.7%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
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
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
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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
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