Overview
EMPLOYED
72,800
PART-TIME SHARE
10%
FEMALE SHARE
17%
MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS
$2,264
MEDIAN AGE
33
ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH
900
Summary
Civil Engineering Professionals design, plan, organise and oversee the construction of civil engineering projects such as dams, bridges, pipelines, gas and water supply schemes, sewerage systems, roads, airports and other structures; analyse the likely behaviour of soil and rock when placed under pressure by proposed structures and design structural foundations; analyse the statical properties of all types of structures and test the behaviour and durability of materials used in their construction; plan and develop transportation systems; and estimate and monitor the construction costs of projects.
Tasks
- Determining construction methods, materials and quality standards, and drafting and interpreting specifications, drawings, plans, construction methods and procedures
- Organising and directing site labour and the delivery of construction materials, plant and equipment, and establishing detailed programs for the coordination of site activities
- Obtaining soil and rock samples at different depths across sites and testing samples to determine strength, compressibility and other factors that affect the behaviour of soil and rock when a structure is imposed and determining the safe loading for the soil
- Studying architectural and engineering drawings and specifications to estimate total costs, and preparing detailed cost plans and estimates as tools to assist in budgetary control
- Monitoring changes to designs, assessing effects on cost, and measuring, valuing and negotiating variations to designs
- Analysing structural systems for both static and dynamic loads
- Designing structures to ensure they do not collapse, bend, twist or vibrate in undesirable ways
- Assessing present and future travel flow patterns taking into account population increase and needs change
- Designing the physical aspects of transportation systems such as highways, railroads, urban transit, air transportation, logistical supply systems and their terminals
Details
On this page
Earnings and Hours
| Earnings and Hours | Civil Engineering Professionals | All Occupations |
|---|---|---|
| Share of workers who work full-time hours | 90% | 69% |
| Average full-time hours worked per week | 44 hours | 44 hours |
| Median full-time earnings per week | $2,264 | $1,697 |
| Median hourly earnings | $60 | $43 |
Industries
Civil Engineering Professionals work in industries like:
Source:
Ranked using ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2024, four-quarter average data, custom report.
Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.
States and territories
New South Wales
30.3%
Victoria
30.1%
Queensland
18.9%
South Australia
5.6%
Western Australia
12.2%
Tasmania
0.9%
Northern Territory
0.8%
Australian Capital Territory
1.1%
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, February 2025, Jobs and Skills Australia trend data.
Age and gender
| Age and Gender | Civil Engineering Professionals | All Occupations |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33 years | 39 years |
| Female share of employment | 17% | 48% |
Education
Registration may be required in some states and territories. In addition, Engineers Australia has a non-compulsory National Engineering Register.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- Your Career to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
| Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) | All Occupations | Civil Engineering Professionals |
|---|---|---|
| Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 12.2 | 24.8 |
| Bachelor degree | 23.2 | 63.8 |
| Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 11.1 | 4.0 |
| Certificate III/IV | 19.5 | 1.9 |
| Year 12 | 15.9 | 3.7 |
| Year 11 | 4.0 | 0.1 |
| Year 10 and below | 9.7 | 0.3 |
Occupation profiles data
This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.
Use of data in this file must include the relevant attribution text provided.
Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations
Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.