Jobs Similar to Civil Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to civil engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Transportation Engineers, Water/Wastewater Engineers and Energy Engineers.
Civil Engineers: $100,840 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Civil Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transportation EngineersSame group | 85% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Water/Wastewater EngineersSame group | 82% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 82% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Fire-Prevention and Protection EngineersSame group | 81% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Environmental EngineersSame group | 80% | $107,110+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | 79% | $99,280−2% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSame group | 79% | $106,220+5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 79% | $64,950−36% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | 78% | $66,150−34% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Solar Energy Systems EngineersSame group | 77% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Water Resource Specialists | 77% | $167,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Electrical EngineersSame group | 76% | $120,630+20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Landscape Architects | 75% | $79,870−21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Petroleum EngineersSame group | 75% | $144,910+44% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 74% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 74% | $134,960+34% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Logistics Engineers | 74% | $82,320Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 74% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 74% | $125,040+24% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Transportation Engineers
85% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Water/Wastewater Engineers
82% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
82% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Wind Energy Engineers
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
81% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Environmental Engineers
80% similar · $107,110 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
79% similar · $99,280 (−2%) · Graduate degree
- 8Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
79% similar · $106,220 (+5%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $64,950 (−36%) · Training or associate
- 10Architectural and Civil Drafters
78% similar · $66,150 (−34%) · Training or associate
- 11Solar Energy Systems Engineers
77% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Water Resource Specialists
77% similar · $167,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Electrical Engineers
76% similar · $120,630 (+20%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Landscape Architects
75% similar · $79,870 (−21%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Petroleum Engineers
75% similar · $144,910 (+44%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Environmental Restoration Planners
74% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 17Aerospace Engineers
74% similar · $134,960 (+34%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Logistics Engineers
74% similar · $82,320 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Automotive Engineers
74% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Chemical Engineers
74% similar · $125,040 (+24%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than civil engineers.
- Petroleum Engineers75% similar · $144,910 (+44%)
- Aerospace Engineers74% similar · $134,960 (+34%)
- Chemical Engineers74% similar · $125,040 (+24%)
- Electrical Engineers76% similar · $120,630 (+20%)
- Environmental Engineers80% similar · $107,110 (+6%)
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers79% similar · $106,220 (+5%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for civil engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where civil engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval (86)
- Landscape Architects (85)
- Water Resource Specialists (81)
- Architectural and Civil Drafters (80)
- Construction Managers (79)
- Surveyors (79)
- Transportation Planners (79)
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (78)
- Cost Estimators (78)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (77)
Questions about jobs like civil engineers
What jobs are most similar to civil engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Transportation Engineers (85% similar), Water/Wastewater Engineers (82% similar), Energy Engineers (82% similar), Wind Energy Engineers (81% similar) and Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (81% similar).
Which jobs like civil engineers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Engineers ($144,910, +44%; usually a bachelor's degree), Aerospace Engineers ($134,960, +34%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Chemical Engineers ($125,040, +24%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with civil engineers ($100,840). Without more preparation than civil engineers usually need: Petroleum Engineers, Aerospace Engineers and Chemical Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.