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Retired Civil Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Program Manager - US Navy

Chantilly, VA · Hybrid

$183K - $250K/yr

A retired Civil Engineer Corps Officer a plus * Bachelor and/or Master's degree from an accredited school in an engineering or related technical field including architecture * 10+ years in project ...

Program Manager - US Navy

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$183K - $250K/yr

A retired Civil Engineer Corps Officer a plus * Bachelor and/or Master's degree from an accredited school in an engineering or related technical field including architecture * 10+ years in project ...

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Retired Civil Engineer information

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$38K

$82.7K

$123K

How much do retired civil engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for retired civil engineer in the United States is $82,674.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,500.00 and $98,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Retired Civil Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Retired Civil Engineer, one typically relies on a strong background in civil engineering principles, project management, and practical experience gained during their active career. Familiarity with engineering software such as AutoCAD, structural analysis tools, and a professional engineering (PE) license are common technical qualifications. Effective communication, mentorship, and adaptability are valuable soft skills for those who wish to consult, teach, or volunteer post-retirement. These skills ensure that a Retired Civil Engineer can continue to contribute meaningfully to the field, whether through advisory roles, teaching, or project consultation.

What types of part-time or consulting opportunities are available for retired civil engineers?

Retired civil engineers often find rewarding part-time or consulting roles, such as serving as expert witnesses for legal cases, mentoring young engineers, or providing technical advisement on specific projects. Many organizations value the experience and practical insight that retired professionals can offer, allowing you to work on a flexible schedule and choose projects that align with your interests. Consulting may involve reviewing design plans, advising on regulatory compliance, or assisting with project management for infrastructure projects. These opportunities enable retired engineers to stay engaged in the industry, share their expertise, and maintain professional connections on their own terms.

What does a Retired Civil Engineer do?

A Retired Civil Engineer is a professional who has concluded their active career in civil engineering but may still offer consulting, mentorship, or part-time project work. Many retired engineers share their expertise by advising on infrastructure projects, volunteering, or teaching. Some may also work as independent consultants, helping firms with design, planning, or compliance issues. Retirement often provides flexibility to stay engaged in the field without the demands of a full-time job.

What do engineers do when they retire?

Retired civil engineers often pursue activities such as consulting, mentoring, or volunteering in community projects. Some may also engage in hobbies related to engineering, like designing or building, or focus on personal interests outside of their profession.

What other jobs can civil engineers do?

Civil engineers can transition into roles such as construction managers, project managers, urban planners, or environmental consultants, utilizing their skills in design, project management, and knowledge of construction processes. They may also work in areas like infrastructure inspection, safety regulation, or technical consulting, often requiring relevant certifications or licenses. These roles typically involve project oversight, technical analysis, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

Can you make $500,000 as a civil engineer?

Retired civil engineers typically do not earn salaries, as they are no longer working in the field. While active civil engineers in senior or specialized roles can earn high salaries, reaching $500,000 annually is uncommon and usually requires extensive experience, advanced certifications, or leadership positions in large projects or firms.

What age do most civil engineers retire?

Most civil engineers retire between ages 60 and 65, aligning with typical retirement ages for professionals in engineering fields. Factors such as career length, health, and personal choice influence the actual retirement age, with some working into their late 60s or early 70s if they remain active and engaged in their work or consulting roles.
More about Retired Civil Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Retired Civil Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Retired Civil Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Retired Civil Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Retired Civil Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Retired Civil Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Retired Civil Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Retired Civil Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,674 per year, or $39.7 per hour.
CIVIL ENGINEER (STRUCTURAL)

CIVIL ENGINEER (STRUCTURAL)

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command

Jacksonville, FL • On-site, Remote

$106K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 21 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

26th of 46 rated military and defense


Job description

Summary
This is a public notice flyer to notify interested applicants of anticipated vacancies. Applications will not be accepted through this flyer. Interested applicants must follow the directions in the "How to Apply" section of this flyer to be considered. There may or may not be actual vacancies filled from this flyer. Notice of Result letters will not be sent to applicants who respond to this flyer.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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  • You will have expertise in independently performing analysis and preparing Structural Waterfront designs for a wide range of facilities of the type as would commonly be found on a DoD Installation.
  • You will have expertise in developing complex Structural Waterfront designs and analysis utilizing engineering software and drawings in Auto Cad and REVIT.
  • You will possess in-depth knowledge of specifications, criteria, policy, industry criteria and standards, and standard practices as related to Waterfront Facility Engineering.
  • You will be able to provide leadership and specialized engineering consultation and support to the NAVFAC SE Waterfront Engineering community.
  • You will have expertise in ensuring that the Structural aspects of the Waterfront projects are constructed in accordance with the contract plans and specifications.
  • You will be proficient in the following construction support activities: Review and Approve shop drawings, Delegated Designs, Value Engineering Cost Proposals (VECPs), and provide technical responses to Requests for Information (RFIs).

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • Must be a US Citizen.
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
  • Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
  • New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
  • Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain a current valid United States driver's license.
  • You will be required to complete training, obtain, and maintain a government credit card for travel and travel-related purchases.
  • This position may require travel from normal duty station to CONUS and OCONUS and may include remote or isolated sites. You must be able to travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods of time.
  • This position is covered under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA). Certification in the Acquisition Functional Area and category assigned to the position is required within established category timeframes.
  • You will be required to complete ethics orientation within three months of appointment and submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, within 30 days of appointment.
  • Registration as a Professional Engineer is required.

Qualifications
Your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the (GS-12) grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Preparing engineering drawings for the structural portion of civil engineering facility design projects; 2) Developing solutions to structural engineering problems; 3) Interpreting policy, regulations and engineering criteria to determine impact on civil/structural engineering design projects; and 4) Monitoring civil/structural projects to ensure adherence to budget, schedule and quality standards.
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/civil-engineering-series-0810/
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
Education
Applicants must meet the following basic education requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual:
Successful completion of a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: http://www.nspe.org
OR
Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/HowtoGetLicensed/index.html.
OR
Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A (above). The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A (above)
OR
Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least one year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily, there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.
Additional information
This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.
Several vacancies may be filled.
A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.
Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf.
Veteran's preference does not apply when selecting individuals under this specific hiring authority. However, if you claim veteran's preference, you will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application as described in the Required Documents section below.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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