Career comparison
Civil Engineer vs. Civil Engineering Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Civil engineers earn more at the median ($100,840 vs. $64,950), while civil engineering technicians usually get to work faster (2 years of training). Civil engineers design and build roads, bridges, water systems and the infrastructure we rely on. Civil engineering technicians help civil engineers plan, design and test roads, bridges and infrastructure.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Civil Engineer | Civil Engineering Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $100,840 ($48.48/hr) | $64,950 ($31.23/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $68,240 – $163,220 | $44,220 – $98,980 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.4% (faster than average) | +3.2% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 22,700 | 6,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 4 years + PE path | 2 years |
| Key credential | Engineer in Training (EIT) | NICET certification |
| Work setting | Civil engineers work in offices and at construction sites.. | Technicians split time between offices and construction sites, in all weather.. |
What each job does
Civil Engineer
- Design infrastructure projects
- Analyze loads, soils and water flow
- Prepare plans and specifications
- Estimate costs
- Manage construction
Civil Engineering Technician
- Draft plans and drawings
- Estimate quantities and costs
- Test soil, concrete and asphalt
- Inspect construction sites
- Collect and analyze field data
How they’re similar
Both careers involve indoor work, working outdoors, and teamwork. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose civil engineer if…
- I love math and physics
- I want to build infrastructure
- I like solving complex problems
Choose civil engineering technician if…
- I like construction and design
- I enjoy math
- I want field and office work
Still torn? Take the Civil Engineer fit quiz and the Civil Engineering Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, civil engineer or civil engineering technician?
Civil Engineers earn more at the median: $100,840 versus $64,950 for civil engineering technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Civil Engineering Technicians typically train faster (2 years) than civil engineers (4 years + PE path).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects civil engineers to grow +6.4% from 2025–35, compared with +3.2% for civil engineering technicians.