Civil Engineering Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Civil Engineering Technology is a hands-on, applied field focused on supporting the design, construction, and maintenance of critical infrastructure systems. This program equips students with the technical expertise needed to assist civil engineers in bringing large-scale public works projects to life, from transportation networks to water resource systems and urban development.
- Site Analysis: Evaluating land conditions, topography, and environmental factors to determine the feasibility and optimal layout for construction projects.
- Structural Testing Procedures: Applying standardized methods to assess the strength, stability, and durability of building materials and structural components.
- Field and Laboratory Testing: Conducting real-world and controlled environment assessments of soil, concrete, asphalt, and other construction materials to ensure compliance with safety and performance standards.
- Plan and Specification Preparation: Creating detailed technical drawings and written guidelines that communicate design intent, material requirements, and construction protocols.
- Test Equipment Operation and Maintenance: Mastering the use, calibration, and upkeep of precision instruments used in material sampling, measurement, and quality control.
- Report Preparation: Compiling accurate, professional documentation of test results, project progress, and compliance findings for engineering teams and regulatory agencies.
Civil Engineering Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Civil Engineering Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Civil Engineering Technology degrees, including Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians and Traffic Technicians. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 69,710 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians 17-3022 | $64,200 | $43,550 - $97,840 | 62,130 | $30.86 |
| Traffic Technicians 53-6041 | $58,480 | $38,060 - $85,810 | 7,580 | $28.12 |
Civil Engineering Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $45,390 in Alaska to $105,820 in District of Columbia—a 133% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, California, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 69,710 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Civil Engineering Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Civil Engineering Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Civil Engineering Technology is found at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) (41 graduates), Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) (36 graduates), Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) (31 graduates), Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (CSTCC) (30 graduates), and State Technical College of Missouri (State Tech) (29 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,106 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
31 | Gadsden, Alabama | Public | gadsdenstate.edu |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (CSTCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
30 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | cincinnatistate.edu |
| State Technical College of Missouri (State Tech) |
Associate's
|
29 | Linn, Missouri | Public | statetechmo.edu |
| Farmingdale State College |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Farmingdale, New York | Public | farmingdale.edu |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
25 | Senatobia, Mississippi | Public | northwestms.edu |
| University of Houston (UHD) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhd.edu |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Utica, New York | Public | sunypoly.edu |
| Bluefield State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
22 | Bluefield, West Virginia | Public | bluefieldstate.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | waketech.edu |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology (NYCCT) |
Associate's
|
20 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | citytech.cuny.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Southeast Technical College (STC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Public | southeasttech.edu |
| Chattahoochee Technical College |
Other Award
|
18 | Marietta, Georgia | Public | chattahoocheetech.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
18 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Prestonsburg, Kentucky | Public | bigsandy.kctcs.edu |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College (SCTCC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | sctcc.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU Pueblo) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Pueblo, Colorado | Public | csupueblo.edu |
| Sandhills Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Pinehurst, North Carolina | Public | sandhills.edu |
| Pellissippi State Community College (PSTCC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | pstcc.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | bluegrass.kctcs.edu |
| Gaston College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Dallas, North Carolina | Public | gaston.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
15 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Lanier Technical College (Lanier Tech) |
Other Award
|
14 | Gainesville, Georgia | Public | laniertech.edu |
| South Central College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
14 | North Mankato, Minnesota | Public | southcentral.edu |
| SUNY College of Technology (SUNY Canton) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
14 | Canton, New York | Public | canton.edu |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Conway, South Carolina | Public | hgtc.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Associate's
|
14 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Public | uprp.edu |
| Northwest Kansas Technical College (NWKTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
13 | Goodland, Kansas | Public | nwktc.edu |
| Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Jamestown, North Carolina | Public | gtcc.edu |
| Hawkeye Community College |
Associate's
|
12 | Waterloo, Iowa | Public | hawkeyecollege.edu |
| Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (TSCT) |
Associate's
|
12 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Public | stevenscollege.edu |
| Cleveland State Community College (CSCC) |
Other Award
|
12 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Public | clevelandstatecc.edu |
| Jones County Junior College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Ellisville, Mississippi | Public | jcjc.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College Area (MCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | mccneb.edu |
| SUNY Westchester Community College |
Associate's
|
11 | Valhalla, New York | Public | sunywcc.edu |
| Stark State College |
Associate's
|
11 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| Fairmont State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
11 | Fairmont, West Virginia | Public | fairmontstate.edu |
| Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin | Public | morainepark.edu |
| Savannah State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Savannah, Georgia | Public | savannahstate.edu |
| Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Troy, New York | Public | hvcc.edu |
| Valencia College |
Other Award
|
9 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Ankeny, Iowa | Public | dmacc.edu |
| Alpena Community College (ACC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Alpena, Michigan | Public | alpenacc.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| Edmonds College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Lynnwood, Washington | Public | edmonds.edu |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | nwtc.edu |
| New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
8 | East Greenwich, Rhode Island | Private | neit.edu |
| Trident Technical College (TTC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | tridenttech.edu |
| Gateway Technical College |
Associate's
|
8 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | gtc.edu |
| Central Maine Community College (CMCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Auburn, Maine | Public | cmcc.edu |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Fergus Falls, Minnesota | Public | minnesota.edu |
| Highlands College of Montana Tech |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Butte, Montana | Public | mtech.edu |
| Mercer County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Public | mccc.edu |
| Vermont State University (VTSU) |
Associate's
|
7 | Randolph, Vermont | Public | vermontstate.edu |
| Madison Area Technical College |
Associate's
|
7 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | madisoncollege.edu |
| Albany Technical College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
| Columbus Technical College (Columbus Tech) |
Other Award
|
6 | Columbus, Georgia | Public | columbustech.edu |
| Lake Land College |
Associate's
|
6 | Mattoon, Illinois | Public | lakelandcollege.edu |
| Middlesex College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Edison, New Jersey | Public | middlesexcollege.edu |
| Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Utica, New York | Public | mvcc.edu |
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| Portland Community College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College |
Associate's
|
6 | Florence, South Carolina | Public | fdtc.edu |
| Midlands Technical College (MTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | West Columbia, South Carolina | Public | midlandstech.edu |
| Eastern Arizona College (EAC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Thatcher, Arizona | Public | eac.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
5 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Delaware Technical Community College |
Associate's
|
5 | Dover, Delaware | Public | dtcc.edu |
| Indiana State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Terre Haute, Indiana | Public | indstate.edu |
| Delgado Community College |
Associate's
|
5 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | dcc.edu |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Princess Anne, Maryland | Public | wwwcp.umes.edu |
| Lake Superior College (LSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
5 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | lsc.edu |
| Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Booneville, Mississippi | Public | nemcc.edu |
| NHTI-Concord's Community College (NHTI) |
Associate's
|
5 | Concord, New Hampshire | Public | nhti.edu |
| SUNY Broome Community College |
Associate's
|
5 | Binghamton, New York | Public | sunybroome.edu |
| Erie Community College (SUNY Erie) |
Associate's
|
5 | Buffalo, New York | Public | ecc.edu |
| Belmont College |
Associate's
|
5 | St Clairsville, Ohio | Public | belmontcollege.edu |
| Mid-State Technical College (Mid-State) |
Associate's
|
5 | Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin | Public | mstc.edu |
| Northcentral Technical College (NTC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Wausau, Wisconsin | Public | ntc.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology |
Associate's
|
5 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Public | pct.edu |
| Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Public | stcc.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Associate's
|
4 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| South Carolina State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Orangeburg, South Carolina | Public | scsu.edu |
| Lansing Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Lansing, Michigan | Public | lcc.edu |
| Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Rosemount, Minnesota | Public | dctc.edu |
| Southeast Community College Area (SCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | southeast.edu |
| Essex County College (ECC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | essex.edu |
| North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) |
Associate's
|
3 | Wahpeton, North Dakota | Public | ndscs.edu |
| Lakeland Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Kirtland, Ohio | Public | lakelandcc.edu |
| Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) |
Associate's
|
3 | Okmulgee, Oklahoma | Public | osuit.edu |
| Umpqua Community College (UCC) |
Residency
|
3 | Roseburg, Oregon | Public | umpqua.edu |
| Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | ccac.edu |
| Point Park University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | pointpark.edu |
| Seminole State College of Florida |
Associate's
|
2 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
| Dunwoody College of Technology (DCT) |
Associate's
|
2 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | dunwoody.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Civil Engineering Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Civil Engineering Technology degree?
Salaries for Civil Engineering Technology graduates vary by role and location. Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $64,200 annually, while Traffic Technicians earn around $58,480. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $105,820 compared to $45,390 in Alaska. Approximately 69,710 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Civil Engineering Technology programs?
Currently 118 accredited institutions offer Civil Engineering Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) (41 graduates), Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) (36 graduates), and Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) (31 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Civil Engineering Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,897 in 2010 to a peak of 1,344 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,132 in 2023-24. This represents a 40% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Civil Engineering Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Traffic Technicians, . Related occupations employ approximately 69,710 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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