What is a Transportation Engineer?
Job Description & Duties 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.
Transportation Engineer Responsibilities
- Prepare project budgets, schedules, or specifications for labor or materials.
- Develop or assist in the development of transportation-related computer software or computer processes.
- Participate in contract bidding, negotiation, or administration.
- Evaluate transportation systems or traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion.
- Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function.
- Direct the surveying, staking, or laying-out of construction projects.
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Things a Transportation Engineer Should Know How to Do
When polled, Transportation Engineers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Transportation Engineer Jobs
- Traffic Engineer
- Roadway Designer
- Transportation Consultant
- Transportation Planning Engineer
- Transportation Analyst
What Kind of Transportation Engineer Job Opportunities Are There?
There were about 303,500 jobs for Transportation Engineer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 32,200 new jobs for Transportation Engineer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 25,900 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Transportation Engineer are Utah, Tennessee, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Mississippi, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Transportation Engineers Salary
The average yearly salary of a Transportation Engineer ranges between $54,780 and $142,560.
Transportation Engineers who work in Alaska, California, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Transportation Engineers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $84,320 |
| Alaska | $125,470 |
| Arizona | $84,770 |
| Arkansas | $81,780 |
| California | $109,680 |
| Colorado | $93,560 |
| Connecticut | $93,630 |
| Delaware | $91,410 |
| District of Columbia | $99,820 |
| Florida | $89,480 |
| Georgia | $81,110 |
| Hawaii | $86,680 |
| Idaho | $78,280 |
| Illinois | $94,570 |
| Indiana | $82,420 |
| Iowa | $83,940 |
| Kansas | $82,340 |
| Kentucky | $82,840 |
| Louisiana | $98,700 |
| Maine | $82,160 |
| Maryland | $86,110 |
| Massachusetts | $94,210 |
| Michigan | $82,240 |
| Minnesota | $90,760 |
| Mississippi | $85,880 |
| Missouri | $86,710 |
| Montana | $77,480 |
| Nebraska | $84,240 |
| Nevada | $100,700 |
| New Hampshire | $83,970 |
| New Jersey | $103,760 |
| New Mexico | $88,840 |
| New York | $102,250 |
| North Carolina | $86,270 |
| North Dakota | $83,460 |
| Ohio | $82,180 |
| Oklahoma | $91,090 |
| Oregon | $88,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $88,740 |
| Rhode Island | $87,220 |
| South Carolina | $84,660 |
| South Dakota | $77,030 |
| Tennessee | $93,810 |
| Texas | $102,990 |
| Utah | $80,690 |
| Vermont | $74,960 |
| Virginia | $94,780 |
| Washington | $93,120 |
| West Virginia | $82,210 |
| Wisconsin | $78,660 |
| Wyoming | $85,220 |
What Tools do Transportation Engineers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Transportation Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Python
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Structured query language SQL
- Bentley MicroStation
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Autodesk Land Desktop
- Bentley GEOPAK Civil Engineering Suite
- Bentley InRoads Suite
- Trafficware SimTraffic
Becoming a Transportation Engineer
What kind of Transportation Engineer requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Transportation Engineer?
Where Transportation Engineers Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Transportation Engineer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Daniel Christensen via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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