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Associate Civil Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

... associate to explore and expand their talents, reach their full potential, and deliver to the core ... GPD is currently seeking a Civil Design Engineer in our Virginia Beach, VA office location to ...

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Associate Civil Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$51.1K

$99.1K

$152.7K

How much do associate civil engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate civil engineer in Virginia is $99,142.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,900.00 and $118,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Civil Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Civil Engineer, you need a solid background in civil engineering principles, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, and an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification or equivalent. Familiarity with design software like AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and project management systems is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication are vital soft skills in this role. These capabilities ensure high-quality engineering solutions, efficient project delivery, and productive collaboration with clients and multidisciplinary teams.

What are some common challenges faced by Associate Civil Engineers early in their careers?

Early-career Associate Civil Engineers often encounter the challenge of balancing technical tasks with project coordination responsibilities. They may need to quickly adapt to working on multiple projects simultaneously, managing deadlines, and communicating effectively with both senior engineers and construction teams. Navigating regulatory requirements and ensuring design compliance can also be demanding. However, these challenges provide valuable learning opportunities and help build a strong foundation for future advancement within the civil engineering field.

What are Associate Civil Engineers?

Associate Civil Engineers are professionals who assist in the planning, design, and oversight of construction and infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and water systems. They typically work under the supervision of senior engineers and are responsible for preparing reports, analyzing project data, and ensuring that engineering standards and safety regulations are met. This role is often considered an intermediate position, requiring a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and, in some cases, an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification. Associate Civil Engineers play a key role in the successful completion of projects by coordinating with contractors, government agencies, and other stakeholders.

What is the difference between Associate Civil Engineer vs Civil Engineer?

AspectAssociate Civil EngineerCivil Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in civil engineering or related field; some roles may require engineering internship experienceBachelor's degree in civil engineering; often requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
Work EnvironmentEntry-level position, often assisting senior engineers on projects, working in offices or construction sitesDesign, planning, and oversight of civil projects; work in offices, field sites, or both
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by engineering firms, government agencies, and construction companies for entry-level rolesCommonly used across engineering firms, government departments, and infrastructure projects

The main difference between an Associate Civil Engineer and a Civil Engineer lies in experience and responsibilities. An Associate Civil Engineer is typically an entry-level role focusing on assisting with project tasks, while a Civil Engineer has more experience and may lead projects or design work. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and certifications, but Civil Engineers usually have greater responsibilities and independence in their work.

What are the most commonly searched types of Civil Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Civil Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Associate Civil Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Associate Civil Engineer job openings:

Civil Engineering Associate, Transportation

Michael Baker International

Alexandria, VA • Hybrid

$85K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago


Michael Baker International rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 18 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

29th of 349 rated engineering


Job description

Civil Engineering Associate, Transportation (Roadway Design)

(Hybrid)

What We're Looking For:

Michael Baker International is actively seeking a Civil Engineering Associate, Transportation to assist in the delivery of Virginia Transportation Projects from inception through completion. This is an exciting career opportunity to be part of and contribute to a growing transportation team with one of the preeminent national transportation engineering firms to focus on delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to VDOT and local governments. 

What You'll Do:

You will work together with other team members towards the successful delivery of roadway and highway projects within our Virginia Surface Transportation Practice. We are looking for a candidate possessing a strong transportation engineering background and verbal and written skills, as well as the ability to support and eventually lead design efforts on transportation projects. Specific characteristics will include:

  • Responsible for developing design plans, calculations, cost estimates, for conceptual, preliminary, and final bid packages
  • Experience providing engineering design services for traditional design bid-build projects and design build highway projects
  • Demonstrated ability to assist and/or lead the design of project specific tasks, roadway and highway design, drainage design, maintenance of traffic control plans (MOT) designs, as well as other transportation engineering tasks
  • Experience with VDOT and local agency projects
  • Experience working within the VDOT OpenRoads Environment and the utilization of OpenRoads Designer and SUDA modules
  • Willingness to help create and foster a team environment
  • Possess strong a verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated ability delivering designs for complex transportation projects; as well as being goal oriented, quality focused, and have demonstrated success working within and fostering a team environment
  • Collaborate with the other team members to develop transportation projects including but not limited to roadway/highway, bridge, rail, transportation planning, traffic control, signing, pavement marking, knowledge of hydraulic design, and preliminary design for environmental documents

What You'll Need to Succeed: 

  • 2-5 years of related experience
  • BSCE in Civil Engineering
  • Experience with VDOT on roadway projects
  • Proficient with MicroStation and OpenRoads Designer

Compensation: 

The approximate compensation range for this position is $85,000 - $120,000 per year. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.

Why Choose Us:

  • Medical, dental, vision insurance
  • 401k Retirement Plan
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability
  • Professional and personal development
  • Generous paid time off
  • Commuter and wellness benefits
Michael Baker International, a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management, has been solving some of the world's most complex infrastructure challenges for more than 85 years with a legacy of expertise, experience, innovation and integrity.
Based in Pittsburgh and with over 100 offices nationwide, we partner with clients on everything from roads, bridges, tunnels, mass transit, and airports, to water treatment plants, arctic oil pipelines, environmental restoration and specialized overseas construction. We serve as a trusted adviser to the communities we serve, making them safer, more accessible, more sustainable and more prosperous.
We provide visionary leadership in facilitating transformational change for our clients. Our work delivers differentiating innovations and dedicated experts who challenge the status quo and share a world of diverse experience and an impassioned entrepreneurial spirit. We deliver quality of life.
We Make a Difference.

Michael Baker International is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Michael Baker International provides equal employment opportunity for all persons, in all facets of employment. Michael Baker International maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for any open position for which they feel they are qualified and all will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, familial status, pregnancy or childbirth, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other legally protected status.
EEO is the Law. Applicants to and employees of Michael Baker International are protected under Federal law from discrimination.

*It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
*There is no current application deadline. Michael Baker will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or no longer needed.

HIGHWAY/TRANSPORTATION PRACTICE

A safe and efficient transportation system is critical to providing access and connections for people and goods to spur economic growth and improve quality of life for users. The highway and roadway system  is  a crucial part of that transportation system and is at the heart of services Michael Baker provides to our clients and partners. We work with entities to enhance and maintain roadways across the country to serve all modes of transportation. For nearly 80 years, we have helped to shape America's highway network. We provide comprehensive highway planning, design and construction services from conceptual and preliminary engineering studies through final design, construction management, inspection and closeout.

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