Civil Engineering Technology

3 schools compared · Average earnings $55,300/yr

Quick Facts: Civil Engineering Technology Training

Where it's offered

Civil Engineering Technology programs are offered at 3 schools across 3 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.

Earnings expectations

Graduates earn approximately $55,300/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.

Apprenticeship pathways

There are no Department of Labor registered apprenticeship pathways currently mapped to Civil Engineering Technology, but related trades may have programs — check apprenticeship.gov directly.

Program quality benchmark

Across the 3 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 46/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.

What Civil Engineering Technology Graduates Do

You'll spend your days bridging the gap between the engineer's office and the construction site. One morning, you could be in the field using a total station to survey a new road layout or testing the strength of concrete samples. The afternoon might find you back in the office, turning field data into precise construction plans using CAD software. Alternatively, you could specialize as a traffic technician, where your focus is on analyzing traffic flow, conducting vehicle counts, and helping to program traffic signals to keep a city moving.

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Your career begins with hands-on fieldwork and data collection, with earnings growing as you gain experience. You might progress to lead a survey crew, manage projects, or specialize in a high-demand niche like traffic analysis. While software and AI now handle much of the routine drafting and data crunching, your role becomes more critical. You'll be the expert operating these advanced tools, verifying their output against real-world conditions, and performing the on-site inspections and tests that can’t be automated. Success means mastering new technology while being the essential, hands-on link between the digital plan and the physical project.

Closely-related paths include Architectural Engineering Technology, Engineering Technology, and Construction Engineering Technology, which share overlapping job markets and training components.

Schools Offering
3
Avg Grad Earnings
$55,300/yr
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
46/100

Find Civil Engineering Technology Programs in Your State

Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Civil Engineering Technology is offered at 3 schools across 3 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.

Top Civil Engineering Technology Programs Nationally

For context, here are the highest-scoring Civil Engineering Technology programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.

3 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.

# School Score Earnings ROI
1 Alpena Community College
Alpena, MI
59
54–62
$60,063/yr 58.3x
2 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Cincinnati, OH
59
50–62
$50,612/yr 69.2x
3 South Central College
North Mankato, MN
58
51–61
$55,224/yr 59.8x

Highest Earning Civil Engineering Technology Programs

Schools where Civil Engineering Technology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings Score
Alpena Community College $60,063/yr 59
South Central College $55,224/yr 58
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College $50,612/yr 59

Best ROI for Civil Engineering Technology

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Civil Engineering Technology.

School ROI Multiple Earnings Score
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College 69.2x $50,612/yr 59
South Central College 59.8x $55,224/yr 58
Alpena Community College 58.3x $60,063/yr 59

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Civil Engineering Technology degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the typical salary after a Civil Engineering Technology program?
First-year earnings for Civil Engineering Technology graduates average $55,300 annually, based on data from 3 programs. The range spans $50,612 at the low end to $60,063 at the top.
Will AI replace Civil Engineering Technology jobs?
Our analysis rates Civil Engineering Technology as "Resilient" for automation risk. With 47% of tasks requiring physical presence or manual skill, a moderate share of the work in this trade remains beyond AI's reach.
Which school has the best Civil Engineering Technology program?
Our data ranks Alpena Community College first among 3 Civil Engineering Technology programs. Its score of 59/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($60,063/yr), return on investment, and career durability.
What's the ROI on a Civil Engineering Technology program?
On average, Civil Engineering Technology graduates earn 62.4x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, and DOL RAPIDS. Methodology & sources →