Civil engineering technician
Also known as: civil engineering technical assistant, earthworks civil engineering superintendent, civil engineering technical officer, civil engineering superintendent, civil engineering design technician, road engineering superintendent
About this occupation
Civil engineering technicians help design and execute construction plans and take on organisational tasks, for example in the planning and monitoring, and in bidding and invoicing of construction work. They also calculate material requirements, and help with the purchasing and organising, and ensure the quality of the construction materials. Civil engineering technicians may perform technical tasks in civil engineering and develop and advise on policy implementing strategies for road works, traffic lights, sewerage and water management systems.
Essential skills and knowledge
- prioritise tasks
- perform field research
- building codes
- construction industry
- engineering principles
- prevent damage to utility infrastructure
- estimate duration of work
- use measurement instruments
- engineering processes
- inspect construction supplies
- follow health and safety procedures in construction
- use safety equipment in construction
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (O*NET 17-3022.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- 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.
- Typical education (US)
- Post-Secondary Certificate
- Preparation
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Mathematics, Speaking, Writing
US median pay: US$64,950 a year (2025), 68,520 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyVery important (4.3)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (4.2)
- WoodworkO*NET: Building and ConstructionVery important (4.2)
- Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignVery important (4.2)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.6)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.5)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.5)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.5)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Post-Secondary Certificate
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Architectural and Civil Drafters
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Construction Managers
- Construction and Building Inspectors
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters
- Mechanical Drafters
- Transportation Engineers
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.