# Transportation Engineers

> Develop plans for surface transportation projects, according to established engineering standards and state or federal construction policy. Prepare designs, specifications, or estimates for transportation facilities. Plan modifications of existing streets, highways, or freeways to improve traffic flow.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-engineers
- SOC code: 17-2051.01
- Career family: Architecture and engineering
- Median annual pay: $100,840 (10th percentile $68,240, 90th percentile $163,220)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.4%
- Openings a year: 22,700
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Civil engineers".

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 73 |
| Investigative (I) | 68 |
| Artistic (A) | 19 |
| Social (S) | 16 |
| Enterprising (E) | 35 |
| Conventional (C) | 57 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 94/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 88/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 86/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 82/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 80/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 79/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 78/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 77/100)
- Processing Information (importance 77/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Mathematics, Time Management, Active Listening, Systems Analysis

## Knowledge

Engineering and Technology, Design, Transportation, Building and Construction, Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Computers and Electronics

## Also called

Airport Engineer, Civil Transportation Engineer, Engineer, Highway Civil Engineer, Highway Engineer, Highway Project Engineer, Project Engineer, Rail Engineer, Road Engineer, Roadway Designer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Civil Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1408) (CIP 1408, 326 colleges)
- [Construction Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1433) (CIP 1433, 59 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](https://www.collegesref.com/college/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion-101) | Construction Engineering | not reported | $116,219 | not reported |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Civil Engineering | $84,461 | $108,548 | $11,634 |
| [Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art-704) | Civil Engineering | not reported | $108,466 | not reported |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Civil Engineering | not reported | $108,246 | not reported |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Civil Engineering | $81,387 | $106,308 | $18,817 |
| [Oregon State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oregon-state-university-2035) | Construction Engineering | $81,808 | $105,964 | $20,875 |
| [Santa Clara University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/santa-clara-university-2371) | Civil Engineering | not reported | $105,594 | $21,500 |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Civil Engineering | $79,750 | $105,199 | $21,000 |

## Related careers

- [Civil Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/civil-engineers): $100,840 median pay
- [Transportation Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-planners): $101,110 median pay
- [Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/civil-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $64,950 median pay
- [Traffic Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/traffic-technicians): $59,090 median pay
- [Highway Maintenance Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/highway-maintenance-workers): $50,260 median pay
- [Construction and Building Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/construction-and-building-inspectors): $74,690 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.