Summary Report for:
17-2051.01 - Transportation Engineers
Develop plans for surface transportation projects according to established engineering standards and state or federal construction policy. Prepare plans, estimates, or specifications to design transportation facilities. Plan alterations and modifications of existing streets, highways, or freeways to improve traffic flow.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Interests | Work Values | Wages & Employment
Tasks
- Design or prepare plans for new transportation systems or parts of systems, such as airports, commuter trains, highways, streets, bridges, drainage structures, and roadway lighting.
- Supervise the maintenance or repair of transportation systems or system components.
- Analyze environmental impact statements for transportation projects.
- Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, and conformity to engineering standards and practices.
- Confer with contractors, utility companies, or government agencies to discuss plans, specifications, or work schedules.
- Direct the surveying, staking, and laying-out of construction projects.
- Estimate transportation project costs.
- Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure safety or compliance with applicable standards or regulations.
- Investigate or test specific construction project materials to determine compliance to specifications or standards.
- Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow and safety.
Interests
Interest code: RI
| Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. |
| Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally. |
Work Values
| Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. |
| Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. |
| Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Civil Engineers.
Employment data collected from Civil Engineers.
| Median wages (2008) | $35.87 hourly, $74,600 annual |
| Employment (2006) | 256,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) | 
Faster than average (14% to 20%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) | 114,000 additional employees |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008 wage data
and 2006-2016 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2006-2016). "Projected need" represents job openings due to growth and net replacement.