Civil Engineer
Also advertised as: Civil Engineer, Design Engineer, Engineering Technician, Graduate Civil Engineer, Highways Engineer, Setting Out Engineer
Designs and oversees the construction of roads, bridges, water systems and structures.
What the job involves
Civil engineers plan and design infrastructure and check that it is built correctly and safely. Work spans highways, water, rail, flood defence and structures. Degree apprenticeships allow you to qualify while employed and work towards chartership.
Typical responsibilities
- Produce and check engineering designs
- Carry out site inspections and surveys
- Assess ground conditions and materials
- Ensure compliance with standards and regulations
- Support programme and cost decisions
Common employers
- Consultancies
- Contractors
- Water companies
- National Highways
- Network Rail
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£28,000 – £34,000 a year
With experience
£45,000 – £65,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 to 40 hours with site travel
Working environment
Office and construction sites
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Engineering design
- CAD
- Structural principles
- Site investigation
- Technical reporting
Transferable skills you may already have
- Technical drawing
- Maths and problem solving
- Site experience
Requirements employers ask for
- Engineering design
- CAD
- Structural principles
- Site investigation
- Technical reporting
- Accredited engineering degree or degree apprenticeship
- CSCS card for site work
Useful but not essential
- Technical drawing
- Maths and problem solving
- Site experience
- Chartered Engineer status with ICE
- CDM and temporary works training
Helpful qualifications
- Chartered Engineer status with ICE
- CDM and temporary works training
Licences and checks
- CSCS card for site work
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Civil Engineer (Level 6)
- Civil Engineering Technician (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Civil engineering
- Related subject: Structural engineering
- Related subject: Maths
- Related subject: Physics
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Engineer
next
Principal Engineer
next
Technical Director
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Long-term infrastructure investment
- Chartership raises pay significantly
- Visible public projects
What people find hard
- Chartership takes years
- Site travel and relocation
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a civil engineer?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. required
- How much does a civil engineer earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £28,000 to £34,000 a year, rising towards £65,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Technical drawing, Maths and problem solving, Site experience.
Related careers
Electrical Engineer
Designs and tests electrical systems, circuits and power distribution.
Aerospace Engineer
Designs, tests and certifies components and systems for aircraft or spacecraft.
CAD Technician
Produces detailed technical drawings and models from engineers' designs.
Mechanical Engineer
Designs, tests and improves mechanical components, machines and systems.
Structural Engineer
Calculates and designs the structural frame that keeps buildings and bridges standing.
Building Services Engineer
Designs the heating, ventilation, lighting and power systems inside buildings.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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