The majority of all transportation engineers work for federal, state, and local governments. At the federal level, most transportation professionals work for the Department of Transportation. In state governments, transportation professionals are employed at highway and transportation departments. Most professionals employed in local government work for city and regional transportation agencies that operate mass transit systems across the nation. Some of these systems, like the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and Washington DC's Metro system move several hundred thousand people per day.
In private industry, transportation professionals work primarily for transportation consulting firms. These firms serve clients in the public and private sectors, including business leaders, neighborhood groups, and government officials. Typical projects can cover anything from assessing transportation needs for a major land development firm to controlling traffic at a busy intersection. Many individuals will prepare environmental impact statements because the success of most projects lies with proving that they will cause minimal air, water, noise, and wildlife disruption. In addition, some transportation professionals conduct research at consulting firms and private transportation foundations.
A good number of transportation professionals are engaged in research and teaching at colleges and universities. Most are employed in departments of engineering, and a Ph.D. is usually required for these positions.
SALARY STATISTICS
According to a salary survey conducted by Institute of Transportation Engineers in the early 1990s, the average entry-level salary for junior engineers, planners, or analysts, and traffic engineers was $33,000. Professionals working independently with a minimum of two years of experience earned $37,500, on average, while supervisors such as project engineers and senior transportation planners earned an average salary of $46,000. Directors of transportation departments, senior partners, and presidents of private firms earned an average yearly salary of $83,000.
Entry-level transportation engineers working for the federal government with a bachelor's degree can expect to earn $22,717 to $24,231, depending upon experience. The holder of a master's degree will earn between $27,789 and $29,641, while those with a Ph.D. can expect a salary of $33,623 to $35,865. The mean salary for all transportation professionals in the federal government was $55,500; in state government this figure was $49,000, and city and regional professionals earned $50,000, on average.
In academia, assistant transportation engineering professors earned an average salary of $45,753 in 1992. Associate professors had an average income of $51,000, while full professors earned $66,500 per year. Part-time engineering instructors earned an average of $27,000 per year.
SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION
- American Planning Association 1313 East 60th St. Chicago IL 60637-2891
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology 345 East 47th St. New York, NY 10017-2397
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 444 N. Capitol St., NW Washington, DC 20001
- American Public Transit Association 1201 New York Ave., NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20005
- American Public Works Association 1313 East 60th St. Chicago, IL 60637-2881
- American Road & Transportation Builders Association 501 School St., SW 8th Floor Washington, DC 20024-2713
- Institute of Transportation Engineers 525 School St., SW Suite 410 Washington, DC 20024-2729
- Transportation Research Board National Research Council 2101 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20418
- U.S. Department of Transportation 400 Seventh St., SW Washington, DC 20590
All 50 states and the District of Columbia require registration for engineers whose work affects life, health, or property, or who offer their services to the public. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) offers the Professional Engineer (PE) license. An applicant must have an engineering degree from an ABET-approved institution, pass the Engineering- in-Training examination, have four years of relevant work experience, and pass a state examination. Licenses are generally transferable between states. Contact the ABET, listed at the end of this chapter, for further information.
The American Planning Association (APA) offers members the opportunity to join the Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). To qualify, members must have a combination of education and professional experience, and pass a written examination. The level of experience required for consideration ranges from eight years for those without a college degree to two years for those with a graduate degree in planning from an APA-accredited university. Contact the APA, listed at the end of this chapter, for further information.
Most states also require surveyors and construction managers to be licensed. Contact the state licensing agency for more information on licensing requirements.
SETTING
While members of many branches of the transportation profession spend all or most of their time working outdoors on job sites, measuring traffic flows, and installing equipment, other professionals, including design engineers and draftspersons, spend a good amount of time working in offices. Working conditions for field workers vary greatly. Engineers and construction managers may be required to work many hours in the hot sun in the summer or in cold and windy conditions in the winter. Those monitoring traffic flow may be exposed to dangerous conditions when working on narrow roadways, in tunnels, or high up on bridges.
Most transportation professionals work a standard 40-hour week, but, at times, deadlines or design standards may bring extra pressure to the job. When this happens, transportation professionals may be required to work long hours and sometimes experience considerable job stress. Those working on job sites may be required to work night shifts when traffic flow is lightest, particularly in the summer, when weather conditions are most favorable for construction. Working hours can be long, particularly when incentives and bonuses are offered by state and federal transportation agencies for work that is completed ahead of schedule.
