Occupations/17-2051.01
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.
Usually a four-year bachelor’s degree.
AI automation risk
52%
Mixed exposure
Human characteristics
59%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
46%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Mostly human
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.
- Mostly routine
Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices.
- Mostly routine
Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, or pedestrian volume or practices.
Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Design or prepare plans for new transportation systems or parts of systems, such as airports, commuter trains, highways, streets, bridges, drainage structures, or roadway lighting.
- 02Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices.
- 03Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, or pedestrian volume or practices.
- 04Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function.
- 05Confer with contractors, utility companies, or government agencies to discuss plans, specifications, or work schedules.
- 06Present data, maps, or other information at construction-related public hearings or meetings.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks2.77
- Degree of automation2.23
- Time sitting4.27
- Originality (ability)3.25
- Conflict situations3.00
- Hands-on objects/tools2.27
- Outdoors / weather2.86
- Disease exposure1.05
- Decision freedom3.95
Top abilities
- Written Expression4.00
- Written Comprehension4.00
- Problem Sensitivity4.00
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Inductive Reasoning4.00
- Deductive Reasoning4.00
- Category Flexibility4.00
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension4.00
- Active Listening3.75
- Writing4.00
- Speaking4.00
- Mathematics3.88
- Science3.00
- Critical Thinking4.00
- Active Learning3.25
- Learning Strategies3.12
- Monitoring3.25
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 51 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stanford University Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $62,400 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $81,948 2 yr $80,276 Master's · CIP 14.08 |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr $78,514 2 yr $74,576 Bachelor's · CIP 14.08 |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $8,200 | 77% | 71% | 1 yr $74,702 2 yr $74,845 Bachelor's · CIP 14.08 |
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $14,800 | 11% | 93% | 1 yr $72,667 2 yr $72,645 Bachelor's · CIP 14.08 |
Howard University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $33,200 | 53% | 65% | 1 yr $72,605 2 yr $74,307 Bachelor's · CIP 14.08 |
Marquette University Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $48,800 | 87% | 85% | 1 yr $68,499 2 yr $64,493 Master's · CIP 14.08 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $12,600 | 48% | 84% | 1 yr $68,422 2 yr $66,342 Bachelor's · CIP 14.08 |
California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $7,100 | 40% | 74% | 1 yr $67,626 2 yr $64,231 Bachelor's · CIP 14.08 |
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY · Private nonprofit | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $68,200 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $67,324 2 yr $64,706 Bachelor's · CIP 14.08 |
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $10,000 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $67,324 2 yr $62,707 Bachelor's · CIP 14.08 |
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA · Public | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $11,800 | 17% | 91% | 1 yr $66,976 2 yr $65,238 Bachelor's · CIP 14.08 |
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX · Public | Civil Engineering, General 14.0801 | $13,200 | 63% | 83% | 1 yr $66,653 2 yr $66,094 Bachelor's · CIP 14.08 |