Transportation Engineers

Overview

Transportation Engineers has a national median salary of $100,840 per year, with +6.4% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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.

Work Values

• Achievement
• Recognition
• Support

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• 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.

Work Activities

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Working with Computers
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Getting Information
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Analyzing Data or Information
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Processing Information

Detailed Work Activities

• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a master's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Master's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a bachelor's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Transportation Engineers:

Video Resources