Occupation

Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Human Advantage 71%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.4 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

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.

Also Known As: Bridge Construction Inspector, CADD Technician (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Technician), Civil Designer, Civil Engineer Helper, Civil Engineer's Aide, Civil Engineering Assistant, Civil Engineering Technician, Civil Engineering Technologist +23 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Calculate dimensions, square footage, profile and component specifications, and material quantities, using calculator or computer.
  2. Read and review project blueprints and structural specifications to determine dimensions of structure or system and material requirements.
  3. Draft detailed dimensional drawings and design layouts for projects to ensure conformance to specifications.
  4. Confer with supervisor to determine project details such as plan preparation, acceptance testing, and evaluation of field conditions.
  5. Analyze proposed site factors and design maps, graphs, tracings, and diagrams to illustrate findings.
  6. Prepare reports and document project activities and data.
  7. Report maintenance problems occurring at project site to supervisor and negotiate changes to resolve system conflicts.

Supplemental Tasks (7)

  1. Inspect project site and evaluate contractor work to detect design malfunctions and ensure conformance to design specifications and applicable codes.
  2. Conduct materials test and analysis, using tools and equipment and applying engineering knowledge.
  3. Develop plans and estimate costs for installation of systems, utilization of facilities, or construction of structures.
  4. Develop project budgets by estimating the cost of project activities.
  5. Plan and conduct field surveys to locate new sites and analyze details of project sites.
  6. Respond to public suggestions and complaints.
  7. Negotiate with contractors on prices for new contracts or modifications to existing contracts.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
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.
On-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.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
30%
Some College Courses
28%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
21%
Bachelor's Degree
18%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
3%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software

Software (27)

  • Autodesk Land Desktop
  • Bentley Systems InRoads Suite
  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
  • Coordinate geometry COGO software
  • Digital terrain modeling software
  • Email software
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Geographic information system GIS systems
  • Graphics software
  • IBM Notes
  • National Instruments LabVIEW
  • Operating system software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Web browser software

Tools & Equipment (75)

  • Analytical balances
  • Blueprint machines
  • Brickmasons' trowels
  • Bucket augers
  • Compression testing machines
  • Computer scanners
  • Dessicators
  • Dilatometers
  • Dropping pipettes
  • Drying ovens
  • Engineers' transits
  • Evaporating dishes
  • Field data collectors
  • Filter papers
  • Glass beakers
  • Glass burets
  • Global positioning system GPS receivers
  • Graduated glass cylinders
  • Hand augers
  • Hand-operated boring machines
  • Handheld digital thermometers
  • Hydrometers
  • Inclinometers
  • Kneading compactors
  • Laboratory balances
  • Laboratory bulb syringes
  • Laboratory mechanical convection ovens
  • Laboratory test sieves
  • Laboratory vials
  • Load cells
  • Machetes
  • Magnetic stirrers
  • Measuring tapes
  • Mechanical sieve shakers
  • Metal cones
  • Nuclear densometers
  • Paving sample splitters
  • Personal computers
  • Picks
  • Plotters
  • Pocket penetrometers
  • Precipitation gauges
  • Precision levels
  • Pycnometers
  • Rotary rock drills
  • Rubber mallets
  • Safety glasses
  • Safety gloves
  • Seismographs
  • Sledgehammers
  • Slump cones
  • Small-gauge surface drilling rigs
  • Soil augers
  • Soil density testers
  • Soil moisture meters
  • Soil resistivity test kits
  • Soil sampling tubes
  • Soil testing kits
  • Split spoon samplers
  • Stabilometers
  • Straightedges
  • Strain gauges
  • Stream flow gauges
  • Surveying rods
  • Tamping rods
  • Theodolites
  • Thin-walled Shelby tubes
  • Torvanes
  • Total stations
  • Transit levels
  • Two way radios
  • Vibration monitors
  • Water samplers
  • Wide-mouthed funnels
  • pH testers

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Architecture & Civil Engineering Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians You are here

Resource Extraction Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 1
Zone 3
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians You are here

Planning & Logistics Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians You are here

Resume Builder

Select key tasks to generate action-oriented resume bullets for Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians positions.

Related Occupations

Show all 20 related occupations

Real Talk

Hear from real Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicianss about their work: