Transportation Engineers

Architecture and Engineering Occupations

O*NET-SOC code: 17-2051.01

Develop plans for surface transportation projects, according to established engineering standards and state or federal construction policy. Prepare designs, specifications, or estimates for transportation facilities. Plan modifications of existing streets, highways, or freeways to improve traffic flow.

Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
High· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery high
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
Source dataset (XLSX download)
Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.008
0.000Range of values carried here0.745
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
Source dataset (CSV download)
Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.30
0.09Range of values carried here0.70
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Exposed tasks only

26 rated tasks · 25 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (96.2%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.

Source: OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release: gh-main-0471612
License: MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.

Task (O*NET 27.2)	βE1 + 0.5 × E2
Develop or assist in the development of transportation-related computer software or computer processes. O*NET Task ID 16308	1.0
Present data, maps, or other information at construction-related public hearings or meetings. O*NET Task ID 16303	0.5
Review development plans to determine potential traffic impact. O*NET Task ID 16304	0.5
Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, or pedestrian volume or practices. O*NET Task ID 16305	0.5
Evaluate transportation systems or traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion. O*NET Task ID 16306	0.5
Evaluate traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion. O*NET Task ID 16307	0.5
Prepare project budgets, schedules, or specifications for labor or materials. O*NET Task ID 16309	0.5
Prepare final project layout drawings that include details such as stress calculations. O*NET Task ID 16310	0.5
Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function. O*NET Task ID 16311	0.5
Participate in contract bidding, negotiation, or administration. O*NET Task ID 16312	0.5
Model transportation scenarios to evaluate the impacts of activities such as new development or to identify possible solutions to transportation problems. O*NET Task ID 16313	0.5
Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow or safety. O*NET Task ID 16314	0.5
Investigate or test specific construction project materials to determine compliance to specifications or standards. O*NET Task ID 16315	0.5
Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure safety or compliance with applicable standards or regulations. O*NET Task ID 16316	0.5
Direct the surveying, staking, or laying-out of construction projects. O*NET Task ID 16317	0.5
Estimate transportation project costs. O*NET Task ID 16318	0.5
Confer with contractors, utility companies, or government agencies to discuss plans, specifications, or work schedules. O*NET Task ID 16319	0.5
Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices. O*NET Task ID 16320	0.5
Analyze environmental impact statements for transportation projects. O*NET Task ID 16321	0.5
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. O*NET Task ID 16323	0.5
Design or engineer drainage, erosion, or sedimentation control systems for transportation projects. O*NET Task ID 19612	0.5
Design transportation systems or structures with sustainable materials or products, such as porous pavement or bioretention structures. O*NET Task ID 19613	0.5
Develop plans to deconstruct damaged or obsolete roadways or other transportation structures in a manner that is environmentally sound or prepares the land for sustainable development. O*NET Task ID 19614	0.5
Evaluate construction project materials for compliance with environmental standards. O*NET Task ID 19615	0.5
Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. O*NET Task ID 19616	0.5
Show 15 more tasks ▾Show less ▴
Supervise the maintenance or repair of transportation systems or system components. O*NET Task ID 16322	0.0

β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (26)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)	Type
Present data, maps, or other information at construction-related public hearings or meetings.	Core
Review development plans to determine potential traffic impact.	Core
Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, or pedestrian volume or practices.	Core
Evaluate transportation systems or traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion.	Core
Evaluate traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion.	Core
Prepare project budgets, schedules, or specifications for labor or materials.	Core
Prepare final project layout drawings that include details such as stress calculations.	Core
Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function.	Core
Participate in contract bidding, negotiation, or administration.	Core
Model transportation scenarios to evaluate the impacts of activities such as new development or to identify possible solutions to transportation problems.	Core
Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow or safety.	Core
Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure safety or compliance with applicable standards or regulations.	Core
Direct the surveying, staking, or laying-out of construction projects.	Core
Estimate transportation project costs.	Core
Confer with contractors, utility companies, or government agencies to discuss plans, specifications, or work schedules.	Core
Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices.	Core
Analyze environmental impact statements for transportation projects.	Core
Supervise the maintenance or repair of transportation systems or system components.	Core
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.	Core
Design or engineer drainage, erosion, or sedimentation control systems for transportation projects.	Core
Design transportation systems or structures with sustainable materials or products, such as porous pavement or bioretention structures.	Core
Evaluate construction project materials for compliance with environmental standards.	Core
Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.	Core
Develop or assist in the development of transportation-related computer software or computer processes.	Supplemental
Investigate or test specific construction project materials to determine compliance to specifications or standards.	Supplemental
Develop plans to deconstruct damaged or obsolete roadways or other transportation structures in a manner that is environmentally sound or prepares the land for sustainable development.	Supplemental

Anthropic, "What work can robots do?"2026-09

0.00/ 3· Robot exposure index

0 none3 unstructured settings

Scale, basis and source

Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time

Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks

Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.

Source dataset

The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.

Tier of each physical task

Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)

E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site

Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.

Task (O*NET 29.3)	Robot environment tier
Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure safety or compliance with applicable standards or regulations.	E0 none
Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.	E0 none

Employment outlook (BLS)

Values for the whole SOC 17-2051 group (Civil engineers), not for this O*NET occupation alone.

Employment, 2025: 381K
Projected employment, 2035: 405K
Change (2025–35): +6.4%
Median annual wage, 2025: $100,840
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO code	KSCO title	Relation	Status
23152	교통 계획 및 설계가	This occupation is broader	confirmed
23154	교통영향 평가원	Overlapping, not the same	confirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

ISCO-08 2142Civil Engineers

The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.

Civil engineers conduct research, advise on, design, and direct construction; manage the operation and maintenance of civil engineering structures; or study and advise on technological aspects of particular materials.

Tasks

(a) conducting research and developing new or improved theories and methods related to civil engineering;
(b) advising on and designing structures such as bridges, dams, docks, roads, airports, railways, canals, pipelines, waste-disposal and flood-control systems, and industrial and other large buildings;
(c) determining and specifying construction methods, materials and quality standards, and directing construction work;
(d) establishing control systems to ensure efficient functioning of structures as well as safety and environmental protection;
(e) organising and directing maintenance and repair of existing civil engineering structures;
(f) analysing the behaviour of soil and rock when placed under pressure by proposed structures and designing structural foundations;
(g) analysing the stability of structures and testing the behaviour and durability of materials used in their construction.

Example occupations

Civil engineer · Geotechnical engineer · Structural engineer

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

transport engineerESCO 2142.1.9Same scope
Transport engineers design and set the engineering specifications for the construction and development of roadways and transport infrastructure. They apply engineering concepts and knowledge for developing sustainable and efficient modes of transportation ranging from roads to canals, railways, and airports.
civil engineerESCO 2142.1This occupation is narrower
Civil engineers design, plan, and develop technical and engineering specifications for infrastructure and construction projects. They apply engineering knowledge in a vast array of projects, from the construction of infrastructure for transportation, housing projects, and luxury buildings, to the construction of natural sites. They design plans that seek to optimise materials and integrate specifications and resource allocation within the time constraints.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME code	ROME title (French)	Relation
F1111	Ingénieur / Ingénieure génie civil	This occupation is narrowerprovisional
I1123	Chef / Cheffe de service sécurité trafic routier	Related, not a matchprovisional

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 code	CNO-11 title (Spanish)	Relation
2432	Ingenieros en construcción y obra civil	Overlapping, not the same
2453	Urbanistas e ingenieros de tráfico	Related, not a match
2462	Ingenieros técnicos de obras públicas	Related, not a match

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB code	KldB title (German)	Relation
31134	Berufe in der Bauplanung von Verkehrswegen und -anlagen - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten	This occupation is narrower
32224	Berufe im Straßen- und Asphaltbau - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten	This occupation is broaderprovisional
51224	Berufe in der Überwachung und Wartung der Eisenbahninfrastruktur - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten	This occupation is broaderprovisional
51504	Berufe in der Überwachung und Steuerung des Verkehrsbetriebs (ohne Spezialisierung) - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten	Related, not a match

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO code	JSCO title (Japanese)	Relation
092	土木技術者	This occupation is narrowerprovisional

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources