Civil Engineering Jobs and Career Scope: Job Roles & Salary

Civil engineering is one of the oldest and most vital branches of engineering, responsible for shaping the physical world around us. From designing roads, bridges, and buildings to planning smart cities and sustainable infrastructure, civil engineers play a central role in nation-building.

With rapid urbanization, infrastructure expansion, and a growing emphasis on green construction, civil engineering jobs are in high demand across both the government and private sectors. These roles span a wide range—from on-site execution and planning to structural design, quality control, procurement, and digital construction technologies like BIM.

The civil engineering graduates can work as Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers, Construction Engineers, Planning Engineers, Quality Control Engineers, Project Engineers, Quality Surveyors, etc. The average salary one can expect as a fresher is around INR 1.8 - 4.34 LPA, and with experience of around 5 - 10 years, the salary can go around INR 4.36 - 10 LPA

Civil Engineering Job Roles

The table below highlights some of the job roles offered to Civil Engineering graduates and the average salary they are offered as per their experience. The data below is according to the PayScale data:

Civil Engineering Jobs in the Government Sector

Civil engineers are in high demand in various government departments. Some of the job roles that the government organizations hire for through various exams are mentioned below:

IES Officer (Indian Engineering Services) Officer

An IES Officer (Indian Engineering Services Officer) is a highly respected engineering professional employed by the Government of India to manage technical and managerial functions in various sectors of public service.

• Employment Sectors: Indian Railways, Central Engineering Services, Central Water Engineering Service, Central Power Engineering Service, Telecom Service, Ministry of Defence (Engineering).
• Hiring Exam: UPSC
• Average Salary: Approx INR 80,000 - 1,40,000 per month (Includes additional perks like Government accommodation, medical benefits, travel allowance, pension, etc.)

Junior Engineer

A Junior Engineer (JE) in a government organization is an entry-level technical position responsible for assisting in the planning, supervision, maintenance, and execution of engineering projects in departments like railways, PWD, CPWD, and various public sector undertakings (PSUs).

• Employment Sectors: Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Public Works Department (PWD), Indian Railways, Border Roads Organization (BRO), Military Engineer Services (MES), Central Water Commission (CWC), State Electricity Boards, Municipal Corporations, and PSUs.
• Hiring Exams: SSC JE Exam, State-level PSU exams (UPPSC, RPSC, MPSC JE exams, etc.) and GATE
• Average Salary: Approx INR 45,000 - 70,000/ month (includes benefits like HRA, TA, DA, Pension, Medical, LTC)

Assistant Engineer

An Assistant Engineer (AE) in a government organization is a mid-level technical officer responsible for planning, designing, supervising, and executing public infrastructure projects. AEs act as team leaders, often managing Junior Engineers and coordinating with contractors, departments, and senior officers.

• Employment Sectors: Public Works Department (PWD), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Municipal Corporations / Urban Local Bodies, Irrigation and Water Resources Departments, State Electricity Boards, Indian Railways, Military Engineer Services (MES), PSUs
• Hiring Exams: State PSC AE Exams, GATE (for PSUs), UPSC ESE.
• Average Salary: Approx INR 60,000 - 80,000/ month (including benefits like HRA, DA, TA, pension, LTC, etc.)

Executive Engineer

An Executive Engineer (EE) in a government organization is a senior-level engineering officer who is responsible for the overall management and execution of major public infrastructure projects. They serve in a supervisory and administrative capacity, leading teams of engineers and ensuring that work is completed efficiently, within budget, and in compliance with all technical standards.

• Employment Sectors: Public Works Department (PWD), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Irrigation & Water Resources Dept., Municipal Corporations, State Electricity Boards (SEBs), Military Engineer Services (MES), Railways (through ESE), PSUs, etc.
• Hiring Exam: UPSC ESE, State PSC AE Exams, GATE.
• Average Salary: Approx INR 90,000 - 1,25,000/ month (including benefits like HRA, DA, TA, government accommodation, LTC, pension, etc.)

Senior Section Engineer (SSE)

A Senior Section Engineer (SSE) is a mid-level technical supervisory officer in various government engineering departments, mainly in railways and public works. SSEs oversee the day-to-day maintenance, repair, and minor construction work of infrastructure, ensuring smooth and safe operations.

• Employment Sectors: Indian Railways, Public Works Department (PWD), State Electricity Boards, Power Generation Plants (PSUs), Municipal Corporations, Defense Engineering Services
• Hiring Exams: Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) JE to SSE promotion exam, State Public Service Commission JE/SSE exams, SSC JE Exam.
• Average Salary: INR 60,000 - 75,000/ month (including benefits like DA, HRA, medical, pension, travel allowances, etc.)

Civil Engineering Jobs in PSUs

Various PSUs actively hire civil engineering graduates through GATE or through their self-conducted exams/ interviews. Here is the list of some of the top PSUs and the job roles offered by them to the civil engineering graduates.

Civil Engineering Jobs in the Private Sector

There are many construction, real estate, and infrastructure companies in the private sector that hire civil engineering graduates. Here are some of the job roles available to civil engineering professionals in the private sector:

Planning Engineer

A Planning Engineer is a specialized professional responsible for project scheduling, resource planning, cost estimation, and progress monitoring in engineering and construction projects. Their job ensures that the project is delivered on time, within scope, and budget.

• Employment Sector: Construction & Infrastructure, Oil & Gas / Energy, Power & Utilities, Real Estate, Manufacturing Plants, etc.
• Top Recruiters: L&T, Schlumberger, Technip, Reliance, Adani, Cairn, Tata Power, Siemens. Godrej Properties, JSW, Hindalco, etc.
• Average Starting Salary: INR 3 - 5 LPA (0 - 2 years experience)

Quality Control Engineer

A Quality Control (QC) Engineer is responsible for ensuring that the products, materials, or construction work meet the required quality standards and specifications. Their job is to prevent defects, ensure compliance, and maintain consistency in production or construction processes.

• Employment Sector: Construction, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, etc.
• Top Recruiters: L&T, Tata Steel, JSW, UltraTech Cement, ACC, Ambuja, etc.
• Average Starting Salary: INR 2.5 - 4.5 LPA (0 - 2 years experience)

Building Information Modeling (BIM) Engineer

A Building Information Modeling (BIM) Engineer plays a crucial role in the digital design, coordination, and construction planning of infrastructure projects using 3D modeling software. BIM Engineers bridge the gap between design and execution by creating detailed digital models that improve accuracy, collaboration, and efficiency in construction.

• Employment Sector: Construction & Infrastructure, Real Estate, EPC & Design-Build Firms, Architectural & Engineering Consultancies, etc.
• Top Recruiters: L&T, DLF, AECOM, Pinnacle Infotech, Atkins, etc.
• Average Starting Salary: INR 3 - 5.5 LPA (0 - 2 years experience)

Site Engineer

A Site Engineer is a frontline technical supervisor responsible for managing day-to-day activities at construction sites. They ensure that work is executed according to design, specifications, safety standards, and within deadlines. Site Engineers act as the link between the office-based design/ management team and the on-site workforce.

• Employment Sector: Real Estate & Residential, Infrastructure, Commercial & Industrial Projects, SMEs & Local Builders, etc.
• Top Recruiters: L&T, Shapoorji, Sobha, Godrej Properties, Tata Projects, etc.
• Average Starting Salary: INR 2 - 3.5 LPA (0 - 1 years)

Procurement Engineer

A Procurement Engineer is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing construction materials, equipment, and subcontracted services needed for a project. Their goal is to optimize cost, ensure timely delivery, and maintain quality standards in alignment with project requirements.

• Employment Sector: Infrastructure, Real Estate & Residential, Industrial & Commercial Projects, etc.
• Top Recruiters: L&T, Tata Projects, Sobha, GMR, AECOM, etc.
• Average Starting Salary: INR 3 - 5 LPA (0-2 years)

Civil Engineering Jobs in India

The average salary of a civil engineer usually differs based on the job location. The table below highlights the average salary of civil engineers in various indian cities. The average salary mentioned below is as per the Indeed data:

Civil Engineering Jobs FAQs