Also called: Pavement Design Engineer
Designs roads, runways and parking lots that survive heavy trucks, jets and freezing winters.
You test core samples of asphalt, use software to design how thick each layer should be, and inspect a cracked highway to choose the cheapest long-lasting fix. Airports call you when a runway needs repaving without shutting down flights.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in civil engineering; PE license.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Civil Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Civil engineers overall.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI and vehicle-mounted scanners map road damage automatically; mix design, testing and repair decisions stay human.
Classes: Chemistry, Physics, Algebra II, Construction CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2051.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.