What Do Civil Engineers Do?
Civil engineering is one of the most versatile engineering degree paths, offering opportunities to work on everything from transportation systems and sustainable infrastructure to coastal protection and innovative city design.
Civil engineers combine creativity, technical expertise, and problem‑solving to design solutions that impact how people live, move, and connect. If you want a career that blends hands‑on work with long‑term impact—and offers a wide range of job paths—civil engineering might be the perfect fit.
What is civil engineering?
Civil engineers protect public health by shaping the infrastructure and environments people depend on every day. Their work ensures that roads, water systems, buildings, and more are safe and built to serve communities.
Examples of civil engineering projects include:
- Designing roads, bridges, and transit systems
- Ensuring buildings and infrastructure stay stable and secure
- Protecting coastlines
- Reducing earthquake risk and planning for natural hazards
Lena Breuer, a civil engineering doctoral student, studies how roadway design can make cycling safer. Working in the Driving and Bicycling Simulator Laboratory, she evaluates intersection designs to reduce right hook crashes between cars and cyclists.
Civil engineering also focuses on the indoor built environment.
For example, through classes, clubs, and internships, Sean Olea discovered a passion for building systems and is on track for a career focusing on energy efficiency and sustainable building practices.
Civil engineering student
Blue Primary, Yellow Secondary
What jobs are in civil engineering?
Civil engineering opens the door to careers with long term demand and real world impact. Through hands on projects, industry partnerships, and research, students at Oregon State University gain experience that prepares them for a wide range of careers in both the public and private sectors, including:
- Structural engineer
- Transportation engineer
- Geotechnical engineer
- Water resources engineer
- Coastal or ocean engineer
- Graduate study or research roles
Jason Bernal Azamar, who completed his B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2025, turned his goal of designing homes into a real career through hands-on experience at Oregon State — and now he’s heading to Stanford to take it further.
Civil engineers also specialize in geomatics. They use tools such as GPS, lidar, and drones to create detailed digital models of the real world. These skills are in high demand and job opportunities in geomatics are plentiful and expanding.
How much do civil engineers make?
Demand for civil engineers is expected to remain strong through at least the next decade, driven by infrastructure renewal and the need for more resilient systems.
Civil engineering offers strong earning potential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for civil engineers was $99,590 as of May 2024, and employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034.