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: Airport Engineer, Civil Transportation Engineer, Engineer, Highway Civil Engineer, Highway Engineer, Highway Project Engineer
Median pay
$100,840
Pay for the broader BLS group “Civil Engineers”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$68,240 – $163,220
People employed
367,840
Whole BLS group
Holland code
RIC
Realistic · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 2.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 3.Do you want the same hours every week?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Transportation Engineers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Civil Engineers”.
What transportation engineers do
- 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.
Skills that matter most
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Mathematics
- Active Listening
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Transportation
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from transportation engineers
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians88% · —
- Transportation Planners87% · group pay
- Logistics Engineers82% · group pay
- Water Resource Specialists81% · group pay
- Traffic Technicians80% · —
Change into transportation engineers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Transportation Planners87% · $101,110
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians83% · $64,950
- Water Resource Specialists81% · $167,220
- Logistics Engineers78% · $82,320
- Landscape Architects75% · $79,870
Majors that lead here
- Civil Engineering, General
- Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Transportation and Highway Engineering
- Water Resources Engineering
- Civil Engineering, Other
- Construction Engineering
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.