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ANZSCO 2332Skill level 1Engineering and trades

Civil engineer

Design, deliver and maintain the built environment, from buildings and bridges to roads, rail and water infrastructure.

Registration: Engineers Australia chartered status (recommended)

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Salary

Cited figures from Job Outlook and QILT. ExamExplained does not publish predictive earnings or projections.

FigureAUDSource
Full-time weekly earnings$2200Job Outlook (2025-06-01)
Graduate starting salary$73,000QILT (2025-03-01)

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What a civil engineer actually does

Civil engineers split time between an office desk and a project site. Mornings usually start with design review, model updates in Civil 3D or 12d, and email triage with the client, contractor and council. The middle of the day often goes to design calculations, drawing markups, programme reviews and meetings with structural, geotechnical or environmental specialists. Site visits punch in once or twice a week to check setout, sign off on inspection-test points or witness a concrete pour. Hours sit around 38-45 per week for most consultancy and government roles, climbing to 50+ on big tier-one construction jobs when programme pressure hits. Graduates spend more time on drafting, quantity takeoffs and field inspections. Senior engineers spend more time on bids, client management and signing off on designs.

Typical tasks

  • Prepare engineering designs and drawings.
  • Manage project schedules, cost and risk.
  • Inspect works on site and approve compliance.

Skills you'll use

  • Structural, geotechnical and hydraulic calculations
  • AutoCAD, Civil 3D or 12d Model and BIM workflows
  • Reading and applying Australian Standards and the National Construction Code
  • Project scheduling in Primavera P6 or MS Project
  • Risk assessment and Safety in Design
  • Clear technical writing for client reports and council submissions
  • Coordinating with contractors, surveyors and subconsultants

How to become one

  1. 1Finish Year 12 with English, Maths Methods or Specialist and ideally Physics
  2. 2Complete a 4-year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) majoring in civil that is accredited by Engineers Australia
  3. 3Apply for graduate programmes at tier-one contractors, mid-tier consultancies or state transport authorities in your final year
  4. 4Spend your first 2-3 years rotating through design, site and project-control roles to log a wide experience base
  5. 5Work toward Chartered status with Engineers Australia. The Chartered programme is competency-based and typically takes 3-5 years
  6. 6For senior or signatory work in regulated states like Queensland and Victoria, complete the Registered Professional Engineer (RPEQ) or VBA endorsement process

Where you can work

  • Tier-one and mid-tier engineering consultancies
  • Tier-one and tier-two construction contractors
  • State transport authorities such as Transport for NSW and the Department of Transport Victoria
  • Local council infrastructure teams
  • Water, electricity and rail utility operators
  • Federal agencies including the Department of Infrastructure and Defence
  • Mining and resources companies with large civil works programmes

Career progression

Typical stages and salary bands. Salary figures are sourced from Job Outlook, QILT or industry bodies; brackets are 25th-75th percentile not absolute floors or ceilings.

  1. Graduate
    0-2 years
    Typical roles: Graduate civil engineer, Site engineer, Design engineer
    Salary band: $70,000 - $85,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  2. Senior
    5-8 years
    Typical roles: Senior design engineer, Senior site engineer, Project engineer
    Salary band: $110,000 - $140,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  3. Principal or Project Manager
    10-15 years
    Typical roles: Principal engineer, Project manager, Engineering manager
    Salary band: $150,000 - $200,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  4. Director or Partner
    15+ years
    Typical roles: Technical director, Associate director, Practice partner

Is this for you?

You might love this if

  • You enjoy seeing a project go from sketch to opening day
  • You can switch between detailed calculation and high-level coordination
  • You are happy doing some fieldwork in the rain and mud
  • You can hold your nerve when a contractor is querying your design at 7am
  • You want a profession that is recognised and portable across most of the world

This might not suit you if

  • You want to stay purely behind a screen with no site visits
  • You dislike working within strict standards and approvals processes
  • You want a fully creative role with no compliance pressure
  • You expect a finished design to never be challenged on cost

Three ways in

Uni, TAFE and trade routes for civil engineer. Not every career has all three; we only list pathways that actually lead to this occupation.

University

Bachelor degrees that lead to this career.

TAFE / VET

Nationally accredited Certificate and Diploma qualifications.

No direct TAFE pathway to this career.

Apprenticeship trade

Earn while you learn through an Australian Apprenticeship.

Not an apprenticeship trade.

Sources

ExamExplained does not publish predictive salary figures. For current Australian earnings data check Job Outlook directly. Career classifications follow the ABS ANZSCO 2022 release.