Civil Engineer vs Electrical Engineer
Measured from each occupation's own live postings: mostly different jobs wearing similar names. Posted pay favors the electrical engineer by about $5k at the midpoint.
The short answer
On pay, electrical engineers come out ahead by about $5k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $66k–$118k against $64k–$109k for civil engineers. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates.
On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair. The readiness numbers further down say how far a typical profile on each side already reaches into the other, and which direction is the easier move.
Civil Engineer
civil engineer jobs · civil engineer salary · civil engineer career guide · careers for civil engineers
Electrical Engineer
electrical engineer jobs · electrical engineer salary · electrical engineer career guide · careers for electrical engineers
The overlap, measured
Switching, both directions
Civil Engineer → Electrical Engineer
PE required for public-facing/utility sign-off; not for product roles
Transition estimate: 12–24 mo.
What electrical engineer postings ask for that civil engineer profiles usually lack: Electrical Systems, SAP, PLC / Controls, Blueprint Reading.
Electrical Engineer → Civil Engineer
PE license required for responsible charge
Transition estimate: 12–24 mo + license.
What civil engineer postings ask for that electrical engineer profiles usually lack: Construction Administration, Civil 3D, Assessment.
Open civil engineer roles
- Civil Engineer (Highway) - Direct Hire at Federal Highway AdministrationColumbus, Ohio$111k–$144kTodayApply
Civil Engineer/Physical Scientist (Interdisciplinary) at Bureau of ReclamationLakewood, Colorado$140k–$182kTodayApply- Ingenieur Bahninfrastruktur (m/w/d) at Aktiengesellschaft Matterhorn Gotthard BahnBrig, Valais, SwitzerlandTodayApply
- Senior Staff Civil Engineer at Direct employerChicago, IL; Kansas City , MO; New York, NY; Parsippany, NJ;$76k–$110kTodayUnlock
Open electrical engineer roles
- Elektrokonstrukteur 80-100 % at Krämer AG, BassersdorfBassersdorf, Zürich, SwitzerlandTodayApply
- Fire Protection Engineer at Direct employerChicago, IL; Coral Gables, FL; Fairview Heights, IL; New Yor · Remote$87k–$109kTodayUnlock
- Electrical Engineer at Direct employerSumter, USTodayUnlock
- Ingénieur Electrique at Direct employerTours, FRTodayUnlock
See the whole board for both
1,513 open roles across the two.
Related comparisons
- Architect vs Civil Engineer51% peak overlap
- Civil Engineer vs Project Scheduler48% peak overlap
- Electrical Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer47% peak overlap
- Electrical Engineer vs MEP Engineer47% peak overlap
- Civil Engineer vs MEP Engineer46% peak overlap
- Civil Engineer vs Project Engineer45% peak overlap
Which one do your skills favor?
Run the instrument with your own skills and both numbers recompute for you. Free.
Quick answers
Which pays more, civil engineer or electrical engineer?
On pay, electrical engineers come out ahead by about $5k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $66k–$118k against $64k–$109k for civil engineers. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates. By seniority and country: civil engineer salary and electrical engineer salary.
Are civil engineer and electrical engineer the same job?
On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair. The skills both sets of postings want most are Project Management, Sustainability, AutoCAD, BIM, Training & Facilitation.
Can a civil engineer become an electrical engineer?
Yes, and the numbers say how far along you already are: a typical civil engineer profile covers 26% of what electrical engineer postings ask for. One thing to settle first: pe required for public-facing/utility sign-off; not for product roles. Skill overlap does not shorten a credential. Our estimate for the move is 12–24 mo. The instrument lists the exact skills that make up the rest.
Can an electrical engineer become a civil engineer?
Going the other way, a typical electrical engineer profile covers 31% of what civil engineer postings ask for. Keep in mind: pe license required for responsible charge. Our estimate for the move is 12–24 mo + license.
How many civil engineer and electrical engineer jobs are open right now?
Right now our board has 669 civil engineer openings and 844 electrical engineer openings, each linking to the original posting. The board refreshes every night, so the counts move with the market. Hiring the most civil engineers at the moment: Direct employer (205), ZÜRCHER Consulting (18), AECOM (12). For electrical engineers: Direct employer (275), iPersonal AG (76), iPersonal (11).
Pay is the posted middle half; readiness is how much of the other role’s skill demand a typical profile covers. Refreshed nightly.