Career comparison
Civil Engineer vs. Engineering Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Engineering professors earn more at the median ($109,270 vs. $100,840), while civil engineers usually get to work faster (4 years + PE path of training). Civil engineers design and build roads, bridges, water systems and the infrastructure we rely on. Engineering professors teach engineering and lead research labs at colleges and universities.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Civil Engineer | Engineering Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $100,840 ($48.48/hr) | $109,270 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $68,240 – $163,220 | $61,550 – $210,370 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.4% (faster than average) | +7.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 22,700 | 3,900 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 4 years + PE path | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Engineer in Training (EIT) | Ph.D. in engineering |
| Work setting | Civil engineers work in offices and at construction sites.. | Engineering faculty work in classrooms, labs and offices.. |
What each job does
Civil Engineer
- Design infrastructure projects
- Analyze loads, soils and water flow
- Prepare plans and specifications
- Estimate costs
- Manage construction
Engineering Professor
- Teach engineering courses
- Run teaching labs
- Advise capstone design teams
- Lead a research lab
- Write grant proposals
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, teamwork, and in-demand. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and education & childcare, but share transferable skills such as problem solving and leadership.
Which should you choose?
Choose civil engineer if…
- I love math and physics
- I want to build infrastructure
- I like solving complex problems
Choose engineering professor if…
- I love engineering
- I want to lead research
- I enjoy mentoring
Still torn? Take the Civil Engineer fit quiz and the Engineering Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, civil engineer or engineering professor?
Engineering Professors earn more at the median: $109,270 versus $100,840 for civil engineers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Civil Engineers typically train faster (4 years + PE path) than engineering professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects engineering professors to grow +7.8% from 2025–35, compared with +6.4% for civil engineers.