Fall FTX - VMI cadets will participate in fall field training exercises (Fall FTX) Friday, Oct. 10 through Sunday, Oct. 12. Trainings will occur on post and McKethan Park, with brief congestion and night marches on the Chessie Nature Trail. Weapons training may be heard. Emergency vehicles will be on post for training purposes.

Career Options and Outlook

Those majoring in civil engineering continue to be in high demand in today's labor market, often in high-paying jobs. Careers are available in both the private sector and military service.


Private Sector Outlook, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Quick Facts: Civil Engineers – Private Sector

2024 Median Pay

$99,590 per year

Typical Entry-Level Education

Bachelor’s degree

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

None

On-the-job Training

None

Number of Jobs, 2023

341,800

Job Outlook, 2023-33

6%

Employment Change, 2021-31

22,100


Military Careers in Civil Engineering

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - According to indeed.com, the average yearly salary for a civil engineer in the U.S. Army is $85,422 per year.

U.S. Air Force Civil Engineering - According to indeed.com, the average yearly salary for a civil engineer in the U.S. Air Force is $70,000 per year.

U.S. Navy Civil Engineering Corps - According to indeed.com, the average yearly salary for a civil engineer in the U.S. Navy is $72,805 per year.

U.S. Coast Guard


Where can I learn more about career options and salary potential for civil engineering majors?

Learn more about specific career paths for construction management, environmental engineering, fluid mechanics & hydraulic engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydrology & water resources engineering, structural engineering, and transportation & planning engineering on each sub-discipline page.

Want to learn more about potential career opportunities for your major?  “What You Can Do with a Major In…?,” brought to you by the VMI Office of Career Services, provides an overview of a variety of occupation options. Enroll today in FOCUS 2 using the access code "keydet" to sign-up and start to explore your options after VMI.

Here are some examples of occupations that may interest you:

OCCUPATION US NATIONAL MEAN SALARY
Biofuels Production Managers  $105,000.00 
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Manager  $97,090.00
Civil Engineer  $89,730.00 
Engineering Professor  $107,490.00 
Transportation Engineer  $89,730.00 
Water/Wastewater Engineers  $94,360.00 

* Salary data provided by Focus2 and US Department of Labor (2022)