Construction Engineering Major

Construction engineering technology is a major that typically falls into the Engineering Technologies category.

There are 85 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in construction engineering tech, 55 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 10 that offer a master’s degree. There are also at least 1 schools in the nation where you can get your doctorate degree in the field.

Who Is Getting a Construction Engineering Tech Degree?

This is a less frequently chosen major. Only 2,000 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering technology in 2017. This major attracts more men than women. About 90% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of construction engineering tech majors is as follows:

• Asian: 2.6%
• Black or African American: 6.1%
• Hispanic or Latino: 18%
• White: 64%
• Non-Resident Alien: 4.5%
• Other Races: 4.8%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in construction engineering tech. About 4.5% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending construction engineering tech majors to the U.S. are India, Saudi Arabia and China.

What Will You Learn as a Construction Engineering Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to construction engineering tech to rate how important certain subject areas were to their job. The following are some of the results of that survey. Importance was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Construction Engineering Tech Majors

Construction engineering tech majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

Skills for Construction Engineering Tech Majors

When studying construction engineering tech, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

Abilities for Construction Engineering Tech Majors

Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a construction engineering tech student include the following:

What Can You Do With a Construction Engineering Tech Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with construction engineering tech:

Careers Related to Construction Engineering

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Construction Managers	11.1%	$93,370
Cost Estimators	10.5%	$64,040
Civil Engineering Technicians	8.9%	$52,580

Construction Engineering Major Salary

Construction engineering tech majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $55,000 to $103,000. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, the typical high school graduate makes between $29,000 and $57,000 a year. The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $44,000 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,000 and $120,000.

The area of the country you choose to work in will also affect your career and salary prospects. Getting a graduate degree may open up more options with higher salary potential.

Amount of Education Required for Construction Engineering Major Jobs

Some careers associated with construction engineering tech require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much education do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to construction engineering tech have obtained the following education levels.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With Construction Engineering

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	0%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	2.4%
Post-Secondary Certificate	16.6%
Some College Courses	15.8%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	11.6%
Bachelor's Degree	47.8%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	0%
Master's Degree	6%
Post-Master's Certificate	0%
First Professional Degree	0%
Doctoral Degree	0%
Post-Doctoral Training	0%

Online Construction Engineering Programs

There are 55 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering technology, with 4 of them offering at least some courses online.

Online learners must listen or watch video lectures, participate in group chats or forums, submit papers and assignments electronically, take tests, and meet deadlines.

Getting your degree online is not easy and includes watching and listening to hours of lectures, participating in group charts, submitting papers by the appropriate deadline and taking tests. Some online programs will also feature internships or in-person clinical hours.

Is a Construction Engineering Major Worth It?

The median salary for a construction engineering tech grad is $70,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 79% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $616,200 after 20 years!

Related Majors

• General Engineering Technology
• Architectural Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electronics Engineering
• Electromechanical Engineering
• Environmental Control Technology
• Industrial Production Technology
• Quality Control Technology
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mining & Petroleum Technology
• Construction Engineering
• Engineering-Related Technologies
• Computer Engineering
• Drafting & Design Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Engineering-Related Fields
• Nanotechnology
• Other Engineering Technology

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
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