Career comparison
Civil Engineer vs. Mining Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Mining engineers earn more at the median ($106,220 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. Mining engineers design safe, efficient mines to extract minerals and metals.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Civil Engineer | Mining Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $100,840 ($48.48/hr) | $106,220 ($51.07/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $68,240 – $163,220 | $67,490 – $169,990 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.4% (faster than average) | +3.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 22,700 | 300 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years + PE path | 4-year engineering degree |
| Key credential | Engineer in Training (EIT) | PE license |
| Work setting | Civil engineers work in offices and at construction sites.. | Mining engineers work at mine sites and in offices, often in remote areas.. |
What each job does
Civil Engineer
- Design infrastructure projects
- Analyze loads, soils and water flow
- Prepare plans and specifications
- Estimate costs
- Manage construction
Mining Engineer
- Design mines
- Plan production
- Design ventilation
- Plan ground support
- Estimate costs
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, high responsibility, and working outdoors. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and energy & utilities, but share transferable skills such as problem solving and problem-solving.
Which should you choose?
Choose civil engineer if…
- I love math and physics
- I want to build infrastructure
- I like solving complex problems
Choose mining engineer if…
- I like geology and engineering
- I don’t mind remote sites
- I care about safety
Still torn? Take the Civil Engineer fit quiz and the Mining Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, civil engineer or mining engineer?
Mining Engineers earn more at the median: $106,220 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 mining engineers (4-year engineering degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects civil engineers to grow +6.4% from 2025–35, compared with +3.8% for mining engineers.