Top 10 Highest-Paying Civil Engineering Careers (Latest Updates)

There are a variety of jobs that exist from the lowest paying to the highest. When it comes to construction field and if you have a civil engineering degree and If you’re interested in a career in construction, there are many options in front of you and be sure to explore all the options available to you. There are many high-paying civil engineering jobs out there.

Civil engineering continues to offer rewarding and high-paying careers, especially for professionals with specialized skills. Here are the top 10 highest-paying civil engineering roles in 2025, along with their typical responsibilities and what makes them lucrative.

Top 10 Highest-Paying Civil Engineering Careers

1. Structural Engineering

Structural engineering is a branch coming under the civil engineering that is concerned with the structural design of man made structures. These engineers need to understand the rigidity, stability, and strength of both buildings and non-building structures. Structural engineers should have a deep knowledge in mathematics, physics and material science. These engineers should understand the structural performance of different materials and geometries in order to apply structural engineering design concepts to build structural systems.

The average salary of a structural engineer ranges from INR 3,00,000 to INR 15,00,000 depending on experience and skills.

Duties Of A Structural Engineer

• Designing frameworks
• Analysing responses to forces like wind and earthquakes
• Selecting appropriate materials
• Overseeing construction
• Prioritising safety
• Considering environmental impact and
• Working on renovations and specialised structures.

2. Geotechnical Engineering

Geotechnical engineering is the sub field of civil engineering that’s all about getting the most out of the ground we stand on – using soil and rock to keep people safe and prevent disasters. It’s got applications all over the place – from military bases to mines and oil rigs and just general construction projects where you need to dig into the earth. Geotech engineers use their knowledge to figure out the ins and outs of soil and rock – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and use that info to design things like buildings foundations, tunnels and dams.

The salary for a geotechnical engineer is pretty sweet. You can expect anywhere from INR 3,00,000 to INR 14,00,000 lakhs a year.

Duties of a Geotechnical Engineer:

Designing tunnels and getting them built

Evaluating the stuff you put on roads – the pavement, that is

Making sure construction projects won’t ruin the environment

3. BIM (Building Information Modelling) Specialist

BIM is a thing that civil engineers are really passionate about these days. A BIM specialist creates and manages 3D models of construction projects – its all about making it easy for everyone involved to get their heads around what’s going on and where the problems are. With more and more companies starting to use BIM, the demand for people who know their way around it is going up fast. If you know your way around Revit, Navisworks and AutoCad – and can get these programs to do what you need – you’re worth a pretty penny to the construction industry.

How much does a BIM specialist get paid? Well, it is a pretty wide range from INR 4,00,000 to INR 12,00,000 a year.

Duties of a BIM Specialist

• Building super-accurate 3D models of buildings
• Helping architects, engineers and builders all work together more smoothly
• Finding out where in the designs there are going to be problems
• Making sure the buildings you design are going to be okay for the planet
• Keeping all the BIM rules and regulations straight

By pursuing a BIM Certification, civil engineers can enhance their skills in digital construction workflows and secure high-paying roles in the rapidly evolving construction industry.

 4. Construction Engineering

Its a pretty specific area of civil engineering that gets into designing, planning, putting up and actually keeping tabs on the construction and operations side of things for infrastructure projects like roads, tunnels, bridges, airports, trains, buildings, facilities, dams and all that sort of thing. Construction engineers all pitch in on the actual building design and use their problem-solving skills to get along with architects and engineering techs. Construction engineers are pretty much involved in almost every step of a construction project – from start to finish. They handle building projects and upkeep, usually on site, keeping an eye on workers and everything that goes on.

Construction engineers tend to make an average salary of between INR 3,00,000 and INR 10,00,000.

Duties Of Construction Engineer

• Working out a plan and making sure it is carried out
• Laying out the designs
• Making sure the infrastructure gets built and maintained
• Overseeing some actual building projects

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5. Materials Engineering 

It is a subdiscipline of civil  engineering, that  plays a significant role in improving the performance and durability of materials, which contributes to innovation, safety, and sustainability. They source, test and assess the materials that are used in construction. Their task is to make sure that  building foundations and materials are suitable and offer guidance on the best materials to use for a project, based on their individual properties, project costs and timeframes.

The average salary of a material engineer ranges from INR 3,00,000 to INR 10,00,000.

Duties Of A Materials Engineer

•  Evaluate material properties
• Develop new materials
• Conduct tests
• Ensure quality control

6. Transportation Engineering

It is a sub-discipline of civil engineering. Transport engineering is an application of technology to the planning and management of facilities for any mode of transportation in order to provide safe and efficient movement of people and goods. It is mainly concerned with the application of modern technology and scientific principles to the design, development and maintenance of transportation systems. It involves development of transport model which will accurately represents both the current as well as future transportation system.

The average salary of a transportation engineer ranges from INR 3,00,000 to INR 8,00,000.

Duties Of A Transportation Engineer

• Long-term transportation planning
• Roadway design, traffic management
• Public transit systems, safety measures
• Infrastructure maintenance
• Integration of technology for efficient traffic flow.

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7. Quantity Surveyor

Quantity surveyors are used to work under the construction engineering field. They are also known as cost consultants who provide a systematic method to improve the value of goods or products by examining their function. The primary task of a quantity surveyor is to analyze the existing budgets and makes improvement by reviewing the plans. They should have a negotiable mentality to deal with the contractors and vendors and have to maintain a smooth relationship with clients and the site manger.

The average salary of a Quantity surveyor ranges from INR 2,00,000 to INR 8,00,000.

Duties Of A Quantity Surveyor

• Reviewing construction plans and preparing quantity requirements.
• Scrutinizing maintenance and material costs, as well as contracts to ensure the best deals.
• Liaising with site managers, clients, contractors, and subcontractors.
• Preparing reports, analyses, contracts, budgets, risk assessment, and other documents.
• Advising managers and clients on improvements and new strategies.
• Keeping track of materials and ordering more when required.
• Documenting any changes in design and updating budgets.
• Establishing and maintaining professional relationships with external and internal stakeholders.
• Traveling from the office to various sites as required.

 8. Civil Engineering Designer

A civil Designer engineer is responsible for building, improving and maintaining an environment which we live. They analyze the proposed structure ant its materials to check whether it can withstand the expected loads and forces. Civil designers primarily work in office environments, but also sometimes travel to proposed building sites. Civil designers find full-time and independent contractor work with building and architectural firms, construction companies, governments, and private businesses of all kinds.

The average salary of a civil engineering designer ranges between INR 2,00,000 to INR 10,00,000.

Duties Of A Civil Designer Engineer

• Develop cost-effective design layouts based on construction specifications and requirements.
• Perform civil design analysis and calculations according to project requirements.
• Determine construction cost and material estimates based on civil designs.
• Manage design projects within allotted timelines and budgets.
• Provide assistance to design and construction teams.
• Perform design changes and improvements according to changing project demands.
• Consider health, safety and environmental requirements when developing civil designs

9. Water Resource Engineer

Water resources engineer jobs are found in local, state or federal government agencies and in private corporations. They usually spend most of their days planning and mapping for a specific location’s water needs, and may need to occasionally travel to more accurately assess the local water resource situation. Water resource engineers also work on flood control projects and help map out drainage systems for dealing with water flow. In the beginning, water resource engineers are expected to know the basics of water management and planning. Some companies may offer additional training or subsidize additional certifications.

The average salary of a water resource engineer ranges from INR 2,00,000 to INR 12,00,000.

Duties Of A Water Resource Engineer

• Producing designs, both initial outlines and full plans, for sewerage, water treatment, flood defence structures and other water-related projects.
• Using specialist software to map out scenarios such as flood defence failure.
• Managing and maintaining water and sewerage infrastructure operations.
• Presenting project details and technical information to colleagues and clients.
• Keeping up to date with changes in regulatory legislation and guidelines.
• Writing and advertising tender documents and managing contracts.
• Liaising with clients, contractors, government agencies, local authorities and suppliers.
• Engaging in public consultations about water projects.
• Monitoring conditions at sites – for example, checking water levels.
• Maintaining professional relationships with clients.
• Supervising staff and site workers.
• Ensuring that projects keep to budgets and timescales.
• Maintaining an awareness of current environmental issues.

10. Planning & Scheduling Engineer

The role of a Planning & Scheduling Engineer is a highly specialized one in civil engineering, and basically what they do is draft and manage project timetables so construction or infrastructure projects can keep rolling without any major setbacks. These engineers are the ones who keep the project moving along by making sure all the key parts – tasks, resources, and deadlines – are meshing together smoothly so the job stays on course and up to the client’s expectations.

The pay for a Planning and Scheduling Engineer can be quite wide-ranging – you’d likely be looking at around 2 to 12 lakhs rupees per year – give or take a few rupees depending on the specifics.

Duties of a Planning & Scheduling Engineer

• they have to use tools like Primavera or MS Project to actually put together the project schedules – which software you choose is entirely up to you
• keeping on top of the critical path and updating the timeline as things change is a big part of the job
• resource allocation and labour deployment are key areas they look at so you’ve got enough skilled workers for the job
• another important tool is generating those earned value reports and some forecasting to try to get a handle on how the project is actually likely to turn out\
• they work pretty closely with project managers to head off any potential problems before they become major delays

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Engineering Managers and Chief Civil Engineers

Apart from the above mentioned job positions this year holds scope for a couple more positions. Right on the money in 2026 – engineering managers can rake in up to INR 45 lakhs, while chief civil engineers are on the same level with salaries of up to INR 40 lakhs. This highlights just how important leadership is in India’s rapidly growing infrastructure sector, where the folks at the top – like highway and smart city project managers – hold the cards on profitability and timelines. And with the National Infrastructure Pipeline taking off, the need for top-notch professionals with at least 10 years of experience under their belt is through the roof, especially those with risk mitigation and team coordination expertise.

Project/Engineering Manager

In 2026, project and engineering managers are top of the heap, with salaries ranging from INR 20 to 45 lakhs ( an average of INR 20.2 lakhs, but those in the top 10% are raking it in at over INR 30 lakhs). They’re in charge of overseeing some pretty big-ticket infrastructure projects, too – we’re talking large-scale budgets and multidisciplinary teams, all under pressure to meet sustainability standards as urbanization takes off. Typical tasks for these folks include juggling resources with the help of tools like Primavera, hammering out deals with stakeholders, and keeping an eye on project timelines with earned value analysis – and of course, having certifications like PMP or FIDIC contracts under their belt only helps.

Urban Planner

Look who’s making the big bucks – urban planners, thanks to smart city initiatives like AMRUT 2.0 and the 100 Smart Cities Mission expansions. With salaries ranging from INR 10 to 20 lakhs, these experts are combining land-use planning, traffic models, and green infrastructure to create some pretty forward-thinking urban ecosystems. The day-to-day for urban planners includes GIS-based zoning, public consultations, and policy formulation for transit-oriented development – and because of all the housing and climate adaptation needs out there, their mid-career salaries are going up 15 to 20% per year.

Updated Salary Estimates

As for some of the older estimates – transportation engineering (now looking like INR 4 to 10 lakhs) and quantity surveying (INR 3 to 9 lakhs) – we’re expecting some changes, mainly due to inflation and all the premium that goes to having the right skills. And one big factor in all this is the rise of AI-driven cost modelling, which will send mid-career averages up even further. Even entry-level roles at the lower end of the scale will be kicking off with more cash, especially if you’ve got some digital tool expertise under your belt (like BIM for QS) – and these are the folks who are raking it in in metro hubs like Mumbai and Delhi. It all comes down to continuous upskilling, and we’re basing all this on the latest 2026 market data we could dig up from verified profiles.

Salary Comparison Table (INR Lakhs/Year)

Parting Thoughts

Civil engineers with specialized technical knowledge and project management skills are in high demand globally. Roles like Project Manager, Planning Engineer, QS Officer, and Infrastructure Specialist offer both financial rewards and career satisfaction.

Start building your expertise in these areas today and position yourself for a successful, high-paying international engineering career. Check out Entri’s Quantity Surveying course to land a high-paying job.