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Transportation Engineer

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All About Transportation Engineers

Job 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.

List of Transportation Engineer Job Duties

  • Design transportation systems or structures, using sustainable materials or products, such as porous pavement or bioretention structures.
  • Evaluate transportation systems or traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion.
  • Supervise the maintenance or repair of transportation systems or system components.
  • Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
  • Prepare final project layout drawings that include details such as stress calculations.
  • Review development plans to determine potential traffic impact.

What a Transportation Engineer Should Know

Below is a list of the skills most Transportation Engineers say are important on the job.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

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.

Types of Transportation Engineer

  • Project Engineer
  • Transportation Engineer
  • Transportation Design Engineer
  • Road Engineer
  • Civil Transportation Engineer

Are There Job Opportunities for Transportation Engineers?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 303,500 jobs in the United States for Transportation Engineer. 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.

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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.

Do Transportation Engineers Make A Lot Of Money?

The average yearly salary of a Transportation Engineer ranges between $54,780 and $142,560.

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Transportation Engineers who work in Alaska, California, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.

How much do Transportation Engineers make in different U.S. states?

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

Tools & Technologies Used by Transportation Engineers

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
  • Citilabs Cube
  • McTrans HCS+

How to Become a Transportation Engineer

Education needed to be a Transportation Engineer:

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What work experience do I need to become a Transportation Engineer?

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Who Employs Transportation Engineers?

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The table below shows the approximate number of Transportation Engineers employed by various industries.

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those interested in being a Transportation Engineer may also be interested in:

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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