Civil Engineers
The short answer
This job is expected to meaningfully change. AI can already assist with or automate many of its tasks. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to hold steady over the next decade, with about 1,146 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second most exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. That doesn't mean the job goes away—it means more of its tasks are the kind AI can help with.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with about half of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second most exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
The score comes from the real, day-to-day tasks of this job—not a guess about the job as a whole. Below are the tasks that matter most in this job, split by whether AI can help with them.
AI can help with or automate about 91% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Provide technical direction or supervision to junior engineers, engineering or computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, or other technical personnel.
AI could do much of this on its own
Design or prepare plans for new transportation systems or parts of systems, such as airports, commuter trains, highways, streets, bridges, drainage structures, or roadway lighting.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Review and critique proposals, plans, or designs related to water or wastewater treatment systems.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Tasks AI can't do much of
Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Design domestic or industrial water or wastewater treatment plants, including advanced facilities with sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membranes, lift stations, headworks, surge overflow basins, ultraviolet disinfection systems, aerobic digesters, sludge lagoons, or control buildings.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Oversee the construction of decentralized or on-site wastewater treatment systems, including reclaimed water facilities.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
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What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree, plus internship/residency.
Getting ready typically takes more than four years.
Skills you already have
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- Building and Construction
- Oral Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
New skills to build
- Fine Arts
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- Sociology and Anthropology
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Engineers, All Other
Very similar work+13% pay1,540 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 13% more—$120,894 vs your $106,668 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Design
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Mechanical
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Equipment Selection
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Chemical Engineers
Similar work+24% pay28 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 24% more—$132,675 vs your $106,668 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Design
- Oral Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
New skills to build
- Chemistry
- Production and Processing
- Science
- Troubleshooting
- Operations Monitoring
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
Similar work+1% pay340 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 1% more—$107,706 vs your $106,668 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Mathematics
- Deductive Reasoning
- English Language
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
New skills to build
- Transportation
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Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
Similar work+21% pay638 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 21% more—$129,313 vs your $106,668 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with 5 years or more of experience.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- English Language
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Administration and Management
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Production and Processing
- Transportation
- Personnel and Human Resources
Industrial Production Managers
Similar work+24% pay457 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 24% more—$132,662 vs your $106,668 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more of experience.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
- Engineering and Technology
New skills to build
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Education and Training
- Operation and Control
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
Construction Managers
Similar work+48% pay2,170 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 48% more—$157,969 vs your $106,668 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Building and Construction
- Engineering and Technology
- Oral Expression
- Mathematics
- Deductive Reasoning
New skills to build
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
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- Personnel and Human Resources
- Psychology
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Similar work+67% pay1,869 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 67% more—$178,657 vs your $106,668 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more of experience.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- Engineering and Technology
- Written Comprehension
- Mathematics
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
New skills to build
- Production and Processing
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
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What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with 5 years or more of experience.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Building and Construction
- Administration and Management
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Customer and Personal Service
New skills to build
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Manual Dexterity
- Multilimb Coordination
- Control Precision
- Mechanical
Managers, All Other
Similar work+59% pay5,092 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 59% more—$170,007 vs your $106,668 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with less than 5 years of experience.
Getting ready typically takes two to four years.
Skills you already have
- English Language
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
Your current skills largely cover this move.
Facilities Managers
Somewhat similar work+25% pay1,181 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 25% more—$133,553 vs your $106,668 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with less than 5 years of experience.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Problem Sensitivity
- English Language
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Administration and Management
New skills to build
- Psychology
- Public Safety and Security
- Therapy and Counseling
- Customer and Personal Service
- Telecommunications
Power Plant Operators
Somewhat similar work+3% pay6,702 openings/yrLess exposed than your job nowPays about 3% more—$109,433 vs your $106,668 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Engineering and Technology
- Deductive Reasoning
New skills to build
- Operation and Control
- Mechanical
- Equipment Maintenance
- Control Precision
- Operations Monitoring