What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the U.S. earn more than $64,950 a year — the middle 80% land between $44,220 and $98,980. About 68,520 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$64,950typical pay / year
68,520people in this work
$98,980+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Keeping the record1
Confer with engineers to prepare plans
+Coordinate with Sam from structural engineering and Maya from MEP to produce updated site and drainage plans…
Confer with engineers to prepare plans
+Coordinate with Sam from structural engineering and Maya from MEP to produce updated site and drainage plans showing new pipe routes, invert elevations, and compaction notes; resolve conflicts by Thursday so I can issue for permit review.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADjob descriptionsO*NET
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Protecting2
Conduct field surveys for site data collection
+Walk the site with surveyor Luis and take spot levels, utility locations, and as-built photos; record…
Conduct field surveys for site data collection
+Walk the site with surveyor Luis and take spot levels, utility locations, and as-built photos; record drill-log soil notes and GPS coordinates so I can update the base plan and submit a surveyed topographic plan by Tuesday.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCAD Civil 3Djob descriptionsO*NET
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Test construction materials and soil samples
+Collect and log soil and aggregate samples at the three excavation zones, run Atterberg and compaction tests,…
Test construction materials and soil samples
+Collect and log soil and aggregate samples at the three excavation zones, run Atterberg and compaction tests, note pipe bedding conditions, and deliver the test results and recommendations to the geotechnical engineer by end of week.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Make1
Develop plans for construction projects
+Develop full site and building plans for the roadway drainage project at County Road 8: plan and profile for…
Develop plans for construction projects
+Develop full site and building plans for the roadway drainage project at County Road 8: plan and profile for each run, pipe sizes, bedding and compaction notes, and a materials list ready for tender by next Wednesday; confirm existing elevations before finalising.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCAD Civil 3DMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work16
Draft detailed dimensional drawings and design layouts for projects to ensure conformance to specifications.
+Produce detailed dimensional construction drawings and layout sheets for the Westbrook housing phase 2…
Draft detailed dimensional drawings and design layouts for projects to ensure conformance to specifications.
+Produce detailed dimensional construction drawings and layout sheets for the Westbrook housing phase 2 showing all plan, section and elevation dimensions, material notes, drainage invert levels and pipe runs, and plate them for review by Friday so specifications and tolerances are verifiable.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADO*NET
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Respond to public suggestions and complaints.
+Draft polite, factual responses to the three public suggestions logged this week about sidewalk slope and…
Respond to public suggestions and complaints.
+Draft polite, factual responses to the three public suggestions logged this week about sidewalk slope and stormwater runoff, reference the submitted site drawing revisions, note what we can change during the mitigation works and commit to a site visit next Tuesday with the project engineer.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Maintain project files and records
+Organise and update the project file set for Lot 12 Jalan Merah: consolidate latest drawing revisions, survey…
Maintain project files and records
+Organise and update the project file set for Lot 12 Jalan Merah: consolidate latest drawing revisions, survey notes, drainage calculations, material submittals and compacted test reports into the master folder, purge superseded sheets and version the archive before handing to the contract administrator.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptions
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Review project drawings and plans
+Review the latest IFC drawings for the civic centre, check dimensions against the site plan, verify pipe…
Review project drawings and plans
+Review the latest IFC drawings for the civic centre, check dimensions against the site plan, verify pipe invert levels, note any clashes with existing drainage runs or compaction details, mark required redlines and prepare a punch list for the design team by Thursday.
The tools that do the workAutodesk Revitjob descriptions
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Inspect structures to ensure compliance
+Carry out a site inspection of the retaining wall and adjacent culvert on Parcel B, confirm compliance with…
Inspect structures to ensure compliance
+Carry out a site inspection of the retaining wall and adjacent culvert on Parcel B, confirm compliance with the approved drawings, record observed compaction, base course and pipe installation discrepancies with photos and measurements, and issue a compliance report to the site manager the same day.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Perform tasks concerning the cleaning and preparation of construction sites
+Prepare the cleaning and site-prep work scope for the Old Quarry redevelopment: list mob clearing, topsoil…
Perform tasks concerning the cleaning and preparation of construction sites
+Prepare the cleaning and site-prep work scope for the Old Quarry redevelopment: list mob clearing, topsoil stripping depths, mechanical digging extents, temporary drainage set-up, compaction sequence and pipe installation notes, then circulate to the foreman and contractor for pricing by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Perform drainage work
+Produce construction drawings and a coordinated cut-and-fill plan for the site drainage, showing pipe sizes,…
Perform drainage work
+Produce construction drawings and a coordinated cut-and-fill plan for the site drainage, showing pipe sizes, falls, manhole locations, invert levels and SUDS details so the contractor can price and build to spec this month.
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Dig soil mechanically
+Generate machine-excavation drawings and a staged excavation sequence with spoil locations, excavation…
Dig soil mechanically
+Generate machine-excavation drawings and a staged excavation sequence with spoil locations, excavation depths, machine reach limits and temporary batters so the site team can schedule the dig and plant tomorrow morning.
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Compaction techniques
+Produce a compaction specification and a series of compaction control sheets showing layer thicknesses,…
Compaction techniques
+Produce a compaction specification and a series of compaction control sheets showing layer thicknesses, required CBR or Proctor values, roller types and test frequency so QA can sign off on the earthworks.
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Lay base courses
+Prepare dimensional layout drawings for base course works with material types, thicknesses, levels, cross…
Lay base courses
+Prepare dimensional layout drawings for base course works with material types, thicknesses, levels, cross sections and construction tolerances so the paving contractor can set out and place layers to the engineer’s standard.
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Lay pipe installation
+Produce pipework shop drawings and installation details for the drainage runs, showing pipe schedules, joint…
Lay pipe installation
+Produce pipework shop drawings and installation details for the drainage runs, showing pipe schedules, joint types, bedding and surround, gradient control and manhole construction for on-site installation next week.
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Follow health and safety procedures in construction
+Compile a site-specific health and safety pack for the groundworks gang including risk assessments, method…
Follow health and safety procedures in construction
+Compile a site-specific health and safety pack for the groundworks gang including risk assessments, method statements for excavation and pipe laying, PPE lists, emergency procedures and permit requirements for the handover meeting Friday.
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Mechanical tools
+Prepare a mechanical tool list and on-site sequence for the drainage trench at 14 Willow Lane: include…
Mechanical tools
+Prepare a mechanical tool list and on-site sequence for the drainage trench at 14 Willow Lane: include tracked excavator model, plate compactor size, vibrating roller, and vacuum excavator, with estimated machine-hours and safety attachments by Thursday so procurement can order.
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Inspect asphalt
+Carry out a pavement condition inspection of the access road at 14 Willow Lane: record cracking, rutting…
Inspect asphalt
+Carry out a pavement condition inspection of the access road at 14 Willow Lane: record cracking, rutting depth, binder exposure, and base failure locations, photograph each defect with scale, note GPS location, and produce a ranked punch list for contractor correction by next Monday.
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Provide pipe bedding
+Specify pipe bedding for the 300mm sewer run on Drawing C-05: state bedding material, layer thicknesses,…
Provide pipe bedding
+Specify pipe bedding for the 300mm sewer run on Drawing C-05: state bedding material, layer thicknesses, compaction percent, grading limits, and inspection hold points for filter material and bedding compaction, and add a revised detail and note for contractor approval by Friday.
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Excavation techniques
+Draft an excavation technique note for the north service corridor: sequence of topsoil strip, benching and…
Excavation techniques
+Draft an excavation technique note for the north service corridor: sequence of topsoil strip, benching and shoring limits, temporary drainage, spoil placement, and compaction control with allowable slope ratios and inspection stages; attach to Sheet C-02 and issue to site team tomorrow morning.
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Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
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Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses