What is the salary and career path for a geotechnical engineer?
Geotechnical engineer is a subfield of civil engineering, so BLS files it under Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051); the OEWS May 2025 median for that code is $100,840 a year ($48.48 an hour), from $68,240 at the 10th percentile to $163,220 at the 90th. BLS projects 5% employment growth for the civil code over 2024–2034 — about average — with roughly 23,600 openings a year across all civil specialties. The path runs through an ABET civil or geological engineering degree, the NCEES FE, then the PE (Civil); a few states also license a separate Geotechnical Engineer (GE).
- Geotechnical engineers are filed under Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051), with a national median $100,840/yr ($48.48/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025); the top 10% clear $163,220.
- It is a licensed civil specialty: an ABET degree, usually a geotechnical master's, the NCEES FE, then the PE (Civil) — plus a GE license in some states.
- BLS projects 5% growth for Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051), the code covering geotechnical engineers, through 2034 — about average — with roughly 23,600 openings a year across the specialties.
- Pay runs from an entry EIT near $68,240 to a principal or practice lead at the $163,220 top decile.
Career Path
How do you become a geotechnical engineer?
Staff / field geotechnical engineer (EIT)
Logging borings, running lab and stability calculations and drafting reports under a PE after the FE; entry pay sits near the 10th percentile of $68,240.
Geotechnical Engineer (PE)
Owning foundation, retaining-wall and slope designs and sealing geotechnical reports around the $100,840 median for the Civil Engineers code.
Senior / project geotechnical engineer
Leading site investigations, deep-foundation and seismic projects and client relationships pays toward the 75th percentile of $129,680.
Principal / geotechnical practice lead
Directing a geotechnical practice or program reaches the 90th percentile of $163,220.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays geotechnical engineers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2051. National median: $100,840. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does geotechnical engineer pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles geotechnical engineers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: geotechnical engineers rank 4 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +5% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly geotechnical engineers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2051 (geotechnical engineers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do geotechnical engineers need?
The baseline credential; a geotechnical master's is common and often expected in the specialty. See all state licences →
Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, the required first step toward the PE.
The NCEES Professional Engineer (Civil) license required to stamp geotechnical designs and reports.
A separate geotechnical license or authority some states (such as California) require to practice geotechnical engineering.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do geotechnical engineers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 17-2051
Salary Levers
How do geotechnical engineers earn above the $100,840 BLS median?
PE license and stamping authority
Earning the PE (Civil) lets an engineer seal geotechnical reports and moves pay from the $68,240 entry band toward the upper percentiles.
Specialization and advanced degree
Deep-foundation, seismic or dam expertise and a geotechnical master's command premiums above the $100,840 median.
Project and practice leadership
Project management and principal or practice-lead roles push earnings toward the $163,220 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a geotechnical engineer worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 17-2051. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Geotechnical Engineer Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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