ZipRecruiter

Log In

2

Entry Level Transportation Engineering Jobs in California

City of Chico

Assistant Engineer

Chico, CA · On-site

$80K - $107K/yr

Class Characteristics This is the entry-level classification in the professional Engineering series ... Principles and practices of traffic and transportation engineering; Land development principles and ...

New

City of Chico, CA

Assistant Engineer

Chico, CA · On-site

$80K - $107K/yr

Class Characteristics This is the entry-level classification in the professional Engineering series ... Principles and practices of traffic and transportation engineering; * Land development principles ...

New

Actalent

Chemist - ENTRY LEVEL

Inglewood, CA · On-site

$24 - $25/hr

... Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick ... About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent ...

New

City of Carpinteria

Engineering Technician

Carpinteria, CA · On-site

$65K - $90K/yr

This entry-level position offers the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience supporting a ... transportation, and water resources engineering. Capital improvement projects including the phases ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsTransportation Engineering JobsEntry Level Transportation Engineering JobsEntry Level Transportation Engineering Jobs in California

Entry Level Transportation Engineering information

See California salary details

$52.8K

$89.9K

$125.3K

How much do entry level transportation engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level transportation engineering in California is $89,904.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,500.00 and $101,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Entry Level Transportation Engineering position, and why are they important?

To succeed as an Entry Level Transportation Engineer, you typically need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field, strong analytical and mathematical skills, and an understanding of transportation systems. Familiarity with AutoCAD, MicroStation, traffic simulation software (like Synchro or VISSIM), and exposure to engineering codes or standards are common technical requirements. Being detail-oriented, possessing strong communication skills, and thriving in collaborative, multidisciplinary environments are important soft skills. These abilities help ensure accurate project work, effective teamwork, and adherence to safety and design standards in transportation infrastructure projects.

What are common responsibilities and challenges for someone starting in an entry-level transportation engineering role?

As an entry-level transportation engineer, you can expect to assist with preparing design plans, conducting data collection, analyzing traffic patterns, and supporting senior engineers on infrastructure projects. Working on teams, you'll often handle fieldwork and help ensure designs comply with safety regulations and project requirements. Common challenges include learning industry-specific software quickly, adapting to varying project timelines, and managing detailed documentation. This role provides an excellent opportunity to develop technical expertise and professional skills while contributing to real-world transportation solutions.

What does an Entry Level Transportation Engineer do?

An Entry Level Transportation Engineer helps design, analyze, and improve transportation systems such as roads, highways, and public transit. They assist with traffic studies, roadway design, and safety analysis under the supervision of experienced engineers. Their work may involve using software for modeling traffic flow, preparing reports, and ensuring designs meet regulations. This role provides foundational experience in civil engineering with a focus on transportation infrastructure.

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Transportation Engineering jobs in California? For Entry Level Transportation Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Transportation Engineering jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Transportation Engineering jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Entry Level Transportation Engineering jobs? Cities in California with the most Entry Level Transportation Engineering job openings:
Entry Level Transportation Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Transportation Engineering job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% Internship, 85% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $89,904 per year, or $43.2 per hour.

Entry-level Transportation Engineer/Planner (Summer 2026)

Fehr & Peers

Walnut Creek, CA

$91K - $94K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

If you are interested in multiple locations please only apply once, your preference will be discussed during the screening process.
 
At Fehr & Peers, we are a diverse group of individuals with one thing in common-a passion for transportation. We highly value that same passion in candidates for our team. Our Entry-Level Engineers and Planners may expect to build a career foundation through a wide variety of experiences. Our emphasis on the early development of project management and technical skills provides the tools for success as well as a foundation for increasing career growth. These opportunities for personal and professional growth are maximized through experience in both planning and engineering project work and by exposure to a multitude of project types and tasks, including the following:
 
- Transportation impact studies 
- Bicycle and pedestrian planning 
- Access, circulation, and parking studies 
- Multimodal operations assessments 
- Complete streets planning, operations, and design 
- Cost estimates and project specifications 
- Transit forecasting and operations 
- Travel behavior forecasting 
- Vehicle miles of travel (VMT) assessments 
- Systemic safety studies 
- Highway interchange/corridor studies 
- Climate action plans 
- Freight planning 
- Transportation demand management (TDM) plans 
- Design drawings from the conceptual stage all the way to construction-ready documents, including the following: 
- Bikeways/complete streets 
- Signing and striping 
- Traffic signals/ITS 
- Street lighting 
- Roundabouts 
- Temporary traffic control 
 
Please review the responsibilities below.
Ongoing:
  • Conduct transportation analysis and write reports 
  • Participate in meetings, including preparing presentations and public outreach materials 
  • Handle project management responsibilities  
  • Participate in professional organizations 
  • Conduct site visits and collect field data  
  • Explore the Fehr & Peers internal Research and Development program 
By the end of the first month:
  • Participate in on-the-job training and mentoring 
  • Work on a few different projects 
  • Seek additional work from project managers 
By the end of six months:
  • Work on a variety of projects with most staff in the office 
  • Use several technical software programs 
  • Prepare deliverables, including memos, reports, and presentations 
By the end of the first year:
  • Attend multiple client meetings 
  • Increase responsibility for managing small projects 
Qualifications (We encourage all applicants to apply, even if you don't meet all of the qualifications listed below)
  • An entrepreneurial spirit and proactive approach to communication and getting work done 
  • Genuine curiosity for the work and familiarity with the challenges of day-to-day travel within your community 
  • Completed bachelor's or in-progress master's degree in transportation, civil or electrical engineering, urban and regional planning, or a related major (e.g., geography, math, statistics, economics) 
  • Coursework in transportation, engineering, urban and regional planning, geography, math, statistics, economics, or other related courses (an EIT for engineering candidates is preferred) 
  • Experience or exposure related to the following topic areas (note that experience in all these areas is not required) Topic Areas: Field work, traffic operations analysis, signal design, transportation planning (e.g., bicycle or transit plans, infrastructure finance, transportation and land use policy, and/or travel demand modeling) 
  • Experience or exposure to relevant software (note that experience with all software is not required). General-Microsoft Excel, GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS), and/or CAD (AutoCAD, Microstation). Traffic Operations Analysis-HCS, Synchro/SimTraffic, Vistro, VISSIM, and/or Sidra.  Travel Demand Modeling-Cube/Voyager, TransCAD, VISUM, and/or Emme. Programming-Python and/or R. 
  • Previous work experience in an office setting related to a topic area listed above 
  • Experience with technical writing and public speaking through school and/or work experience 
  • Interpersonal skills, a desire to collaborate, and a creative approach to problem-solving 
  • Organizational skills and the ability to balance priorities between multiple tasks within a defined timeline 
$91,500 - $94,500 a year
Placement within the stated pay range will be determined based upon education, experience, and qualifications.
Benefit Highlights:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability Insurance.
401(k) Plan with matching and profit sharing.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Commuter Benefits.
Paid Vacation, holidays and sick leave.
8 weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
Mentoring and Career Development programs.
Research and Development group participation, and more.
 
Full information about the benefits we offer can be found by visiting our careers page.
 
EEO: Fehr & Peers is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. We recruit, hire, develop, and promote employees based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We value the unique experiences, perspectives, and contributions of our employees and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

Nondiscrimination: Fehr & Peers ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Human Resources.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
apply for this job

Apply