Civil engineers
SOC Code: 17-2051
Civil engineers carries a 27% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $99,590 and +5.0% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 368,900 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 27% AI exposure, Civil engineers sits 10 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 22% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Civil engineers sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Civil engineers has ai exposure of 27%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Civil engineers vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Civil engineers is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Civil engineers (SOC 17-2051) carries an AI exposure score of 27%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 368,900 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +5.0% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $99,590, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Bachelor's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Civil engineers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Provide technical direction or supervision to junior engineers, engineering or computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, or other technical personnel.
- 2. Design or prepare plans for new transportation systems or parts of systems, such as airports, commuter trains, highways, streets, bridges, drainage structures, or roadway lighting.
- 3. Review and critique proposals, plans, or designs related to water or wastewater treatment systems.
- 4. Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
- 5. Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices.
- 6. Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
- 7. Design domestic or industrial water or wastewater treatment plants, including advanced facilities with sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membranes, lift stations, headworks, surge overflow basins, ultraviolet disinfection systems, aerobic digesters, sludge lagoons, or control buildings.
- 8. Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, or pedestrian volume or practices.
- 9. Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function.
- 10. Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Listening
- Mathematics
- Complex Problem Solving
- Systems Analysis
- Systems Evaluation
- Speaking
Knowledge Areas
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Building and Construction
- Administration and Management
- Mechanical
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Customer and Personal Service
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Civil engineers?
Civil engineers has an AI exposure score of 27%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Civil engineers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Civil engineers is projected to grow by 5.0% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 368,900 workers.
What skills are needed for Civil engineers?
Key skills for Civil engineers include Reading Comprehension, Writing, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Civil engineers earn?
The median annual wage for Civil engineers is $99,590, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Civil engineers?
The typical entry-level education for Civil engineers is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Civil engineers?
Civil engineers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).