by our College Data Analytics TeamHave you ever walked around a large city and been in awe of the buildings? Do you have an eye for interesting structures? A major in Construction Engineering will allow you to pursue your interest in building magnificent structures.
Construction Engineers lead building projects. They analyze building location, choose materials, and manage the project from start to finish. In school, students take classes in civil engineering, mathematics, computer-assisted design, geology, project management, graphic communications, and business law to acquire the skills to lead the building of large structures.
A degree in Construction Engineering covers Construction Engineering. Read on to learn the important information every construction engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering construction engineering programs.
Across the country, construction engineering is a popular field of study, with 1,567 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Construction Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 49 schools to determine the best overall colleges for construction engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of construction engineering programs later in this article.
Programs in Construction Engineering develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations construction engineering graduates commonly enter.
Project management and leadership skills are required for those interested in pursuing a career in Construction Engineering. You will take the lead on building projects, so you must be able to delegate responsibilities, communicate necessary tasks, and ensure the project is advancing towards completion without any issues. Problem solving and decision making skills will help you foresee any issues and adjust plans to avoid problems while still successfully finishing the project.
Construction engineers split their time between an office setting and working on a building site. Work in the office allows engineers to layout their plans and make final decisions on building materials and site location before beginning construction. This career is a fulltime job and due to work under contracts, overtime is common to ensure deadlines are met.
No matter what type of degree you decide to get, in order to practice, you must be licensed by the state. It is best to check with the state you intend to work in to ensure you are fulfilling all requirements to obtain a license.
Skills emphasized by a construction engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a construction engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several construction engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 898 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 663 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to construction engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 22.8% |
| Master’s degree | 11.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 5.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in construction engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
While a degree in Construction Engineering will lead to a career building structures and leading projects, graduates have decided to follow different paths into numerous construction and engineering companies. Others have decided to become self-employed and work to receive contractual work.
Due to aging structures and continual growth of cities, there will constantly be a demand for Construction Engineering graduates.
A degree in construction engineering prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to construction engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to construction engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Transportation Engineers | 392,941 | 1.1% |
| Water/Wastewater Engineers | 383,114 | 5.6% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Civil Engineers | 278,890 | 11.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of construction engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,190 |
| 4 years | $90,572 |
| 5 years | $102,993 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for construction engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers construction engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Transportation Engineers | $120,210 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
With 49 different construction engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased construction engineering school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in construction engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Construction Engineering | 1,567 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 42,939 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 26,760 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,005 |
| Computer Engineering | 19,986 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 13,914 |
| Engineering, General | 13,411 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,939 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 9,596 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,533 |
| Systems Engineering | 3,956 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
