Careers / Transportation Engineers
Transportation Engineers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$100,840
United States, 2025
Employment
367,840
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 17-2051.01
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$68,240
25th percentile
$79,930
75th percentile
$129,680
90th percentile
$163,220
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Mathematics3.9
- Time Management3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Systems Analysis3.8
- Active Listening3.8
- Systems Evaluation3.8
- Coordination3.6
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 22 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
22
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 3.9 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Time Management | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.4 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.3 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Science | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Transportation EngineersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $130,280 | 3,170 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $130,160 | 10,990 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | 5,590 | 2025 |
| Mankato, MN | $128,220 | 50 | 2025 |
| Redding, CA | $126,000 | 380 | 2025 |
| Napa, CA | $123,440 | 180 | 2025 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $123,030 | 190 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | $122,510 | 300 | 2025 |
| CA | $122,500 | 55,180 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | $122,160 | 250 | 2025 |
| Kennewick, WA | $121,370 | 630 | 2025 |
| Yuba City, CA | $119,990 | 460 | 2025 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $119,980 | 610 | 2025 |
| Fresno, CA | $119,720 | 1,250 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $118,050 | 210 | 2025 |
| Stockton, CA | $116,990 | 610 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $116,480 | 7,680 | 2025 |
| Bremerton, WA | $116,210 | 300 | 2025 |
| Salem, OR | $115,480 | 480 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | $115,120 | 3,510 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Transportation Engineers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.