What is a Transportation Engineer?
Transportation Engineer Example 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.
Transportation Engineer Responsibilities
- Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow or safety.
- Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function.
- Evaluate traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion.
- Evaluate construction project materials for compliance with environmental standards.
- Model transportation scenarios to evaluate the impacts of activities such as new development or to identify possible solutions to transportation problems.
- Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices.
What a Transportation Engineer Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Transportation Engineers say are important on the job.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Design Manager
- Rail Engineer
- Transportation Planning Engineer
- Transportation Engineer
- Highway Engineer
Job Demand for Transportation Engineers
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 303,500 jobs in the United States for Transportation Engineer. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 32,200 new jobs for Transportation Engineer by 2026. The BLS estimates 25,900 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Transportation Engineer are Utah, Tennessee, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Mississippi, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Transportation Engineer Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Transportation Engineers is somewhere between $54,780 and $142,560.
Transportation Engineers who work in Alaska, California, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Transportation Engineers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $84,320 |
| Alaska | $125,470 |
| Arizona | $84,770 |
| Arkansas | $81,780 |
| California | $109,680 |
| Colorado | $93,560 |
| Connecticut | $93,630 |
| Delaware | $91,410 |
| District of Columbia | $99,820 |
| Florida | $89,480 |
| Georgia | $81,110 |
| Hawaii | $86,680 |
| Idaho | $78,280 |
| Illinois | $94,570 |
| Indiana | $82,420 |
| Iowa | $83,940 |
| Kansas | $82,340 |
| Kentucky | $82,840 |
| Louisiana | $98,700 |
| Maine | $82,160 |
| Maryland | $86,110 |
| Massachusetts | $94,210 |
| Michigan | $82,240 |
| Minnesota | $90,760 |
| Mississippi | $85,880 |
| Missouri | $86,710 |
| Montana | $77,480 |
| Nebraska | $84,240 |
| Nevada | $100,700 |
| New Hampshire | $83,970 |
| New Jersey | $103,760 |
| New Mexico | $88,840 |
| New York | $102,250 |
| North Carolina | $86,270 |
| North Dakota | $83,460 |
| Ohio | $82,180 |
| Oklahoma | $91,090 |
| Oregon | $88,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $88,740 |
| Rhode Island | $87,220 |
| South Carolina | $84,660 |
| South Dakota | $77,030 |
| Tennessee | $93,810 |
| Texas | $102,990 |
| Utah | $80,690 |
| Vermont | $74,960 |
| Virginia | $94,780 |
| Washington | $93,120 |
| West Virginia | $82,210 |
| Wisconsin | $78,660 |
| Wyoming | $85,220 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Transportation Engineers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Transportation Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Python
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Structured query language SQL
- Bentley MicroStation
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Autodesk Land Desktop
- Bentley GEOPAK Civil Engineering Suite
- Citilabs Cube
- McTrans HCS+
Becoming a Transportation Engineer
What education or degrees do I need to become a Transportation Engineer?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Transportation Engineer?
Who Employs Transportation Engineers?
The table below shows the approximate number of Transportation Engineers employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Transportation Engineer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Daniel Christensen via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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