Civil Engineers
Machines can already do 37% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 66%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Civil Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 37% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 1% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 66% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 367,840 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $100,840 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 70% for contact with people.
- Also called: City Engineer, Civil Engineer, County Engineer, Design Engineer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools | 13% | 35% to 65% | |
| Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications | 11% | 25% to 50% | |
| Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations | 10% | 25% to 50% | |
| Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site | 10% | 10% to 27% | |
| Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards | 10% | 45% to 85% | |
| Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs | 8% | 35% to 58% | |
| Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data | 8% | 60% to 90% | |
| Prepare or present public reports on topics such as bid proposals, deeds, environmental impact statements, or property and right-of-way descriptions | 7% | 52% to 80% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills civil engineers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Landscape Architects63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $79,870
- Architectural and Engineering Managers50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $171,270
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers64% of tasks by 2035 · US median $115,160
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Civil Engineers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of civil engineers?
Machines can do 37% of the tasks of civil engineers today and 66% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-2051.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Civil Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/civil-engineers/