Transportation Engineers in Michigan
Want to work as a Transportation Engineers in Michigan? Here’s what the data says. Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems. Includes architectural, structural, traffic, and geotechnical engineers. Excludes “Hydrologists” (19-2043).
What do Transportation Engineers Make in Michigan?
For transportation engineers working in Michigan, the typical annual salary is $85,550 per year (or about $41.13/hour).Pay can range from $62,870 at the 10th percentile to $132,360 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $62,870 | $30.22 |
| 25th percentile | $72,210 | $34.72 |
| Median (50th) | $85,550 | $41.13 |
| 75th percentile | $106,770 | $51.33 |
| 90th percentile | $132,360 | $63.64 |
The job concentration index in Michigan compared to the national average — is 0.77, suggesting fewer transportation engineers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, transportation engineers earn a median of $120,210 per year ($57.79/hour), below the Michigan median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 388,857 transportation engineers nationwide. In Michigan alone, about 7,760 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 4,130 transportation engineers.
Top Michigan Metros for Transportation Engineers
The largest metro-area employers of transportation engineers in Michigan.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 4,080 | $85,690 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 700 | $85,080 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 690 | $92,680 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 220 | $89,850 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 210 | $91,650 |
| Flint, MI | 180 | $78,870 |
| Saginaw, MI | 170 | $78,300 |
| Jackson, MI | 90 | $104,000 |
| Traverse City, MI | 80 | $93,720 |
| Bay City, MI | 70 | $99,300 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | 70 | $83,530 |
| Niles, MI | 60 | $92,540 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 50 | $82,440 |
| Midland, MI | 40 | $80,960 |
| Monroe, MI | 40 | $94,200 |
Top States for Transportation Engineers Employment
These states have the highest employment of transportation engineers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 54,640 |
| Texas | 33,790 |
| Florida | 22,780 |
| New York | 17,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 14,610 |
| Colorado | 13,510 |
| Illinois | 13,400 |
| North Carolina | 12,670 |
| Washington | 11,900 |
| Virginia | 11,030 |
| Massachusetts | 9,460 |
| Georgia | 8,820 |
| Ohio | 8,520 |
| Michigan | 7,760 |
| South Carolina | 7,460 |
| Wisconsin | 7,050 |
| New Jersey | 6,780 |
| Arizona | 6,270 |
| Alabama | 5,920 |
| Missouri | 5,280 |
Highest-Paying States for Transportation Engineers
The highest-paying states for transportation engineers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $118,450 |
| Rhode Island | $112,250 |
| Alaska | $107,240 |
| Washington | $105,090 |
| New Mexico | $104,600 |
| Massachusetts | $104,450 |
| Mississippi | $103,940 |
| New Jersey | $103,690 |
| Oregon | $103,070 |
| New York | $102,440 |
Skills
The most important transportation engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for transportation engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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.
- Present data, maps, or other information at construction-related public hearings or meetings.
- Prepare final project layout drawings that include details such as stress calculations.
- Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow or safety.
- Estimate transportation project costs.
- Design or engineer drainage, erosion, or sedimentation control systems for transportation projects.
- Evaluate traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion.
- Prepare project budgets, schedules, or specifications for labor or materials.
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
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D In-demand technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Civil Engineering
- Construction Engineering
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Related Careers
Careers similar to transportation engineers include:
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Construction Managers
- Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Logistics Engineers
- Project Management Specialists
Also Known As
Airport Engineer, Civil Transportation Engineer, Engineer, Highway Civil Engineer, Highway Engineer, Highway Project Engineer, Project Engineer, Rail Engineer, Road Engineer, Roadway Designer, Roadway Engineer, Roadway Project Engineer, State Roadway Design Engineer, Traffic Engineer, Traffic Operations Engineer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 17-2051.01