Transportation Engineers

Transportation engineers are expected to have steady employment growth in the coming years. The Department of Labor, however, predicts slower than average employment growth (2 percent) for civil engineers through 2029. As highways, bridges, roads, dams, and other infrastructures age, transportation engineers will be needed to help improve on transportation systems designs. In addition, the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 has affected the transportation engineering field, with increased demand for public spaces where people can safely walk and bicycle while practicing social distancing. Cities and towns throughout the U.S. will need transportation engineers to help them create more public spaces. Going forward, transportation engineers who specialize in the construction process will also continue to be in demand. They will be needed to help determine if land needs to be treated before construction can begin, and also to make recommendations for building methods that are most appropriate for the type of soil at the work site.

There are new standards in the civil engineering field, known as the Body of Knowledge, that have become increasingly important in the industry and require advanced education. Transportation engineers with a graduate degree, professional engineer licensure, and experience working on transportation engineering projects will have an advantage in the job market.