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.
Also called: Engineer · Project Engineer · Rail Engineer · Roadway Designer · Roadway Engineer · State Roadway Design Engineer
Median pay (national)
$99,590
$65,920–$160,990 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
355,410
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+5%
~23,600 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for transportation engineers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $160,990 versus $65,920 at the bottom 10% — 2.4x. The median of $99,590 leaves roughly 62% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +5% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 23,600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $118,450, +19% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $60,510 — a 96% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Writing, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley MicroStation, Cubic Synchro Studio as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Mathematics
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices.
- Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, or pedestrian volume or practices.
- Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function.
- Confer with contractors, utility companies, or government agencies to discuss plans, specifications, or work schedules.
- Present data, maps, or other information at construction-related public hearings or meetings.
- Prepare final project layout drawings that include details such as stress calculations.
- Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow or safety.
- Estimate transportation project costs.
- Design or engineer drainage, erosion, or sedimentation control systems for transportation projects.
Tools & technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Bentley MicroStation
- Cubic Synchro Studio
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- OpenRoads Designer
- PTV Vissim
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
- Python
- Structured query language SQL
- Autodesk Land Desktop
- Bentley GEOPAK Civil Engineering Suite
- Bentley InRoads Suite
Knowledge areas
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Transportation
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Physics
- Administration and Management