Architecture & Engineering
Transportation Engineers
Also called: Engineer, Project Engineer, Rail Engineer, Roadway Designer
US median pay
$100,840
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+6.4%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
22,700
380,600 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Systems Evaluation3.8/5
- Systems Analysis3.8/5
- Coordination3.6/5
- Operations Analysis3.4/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.2/5
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology4.9/5
- Design4.8/5
- Transportation4.5/5
- Building and Construction4.2/5
- Mathematics4.2/5
- English Language3.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree77%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.