The list below comprises some of the top civil engineering firms in the world, which in most cases are the best companies to work for. However bear in mind that there are thousands of much smaller companies, agencies and consultancies that can offer great careers in their own right, but are not widely known. So, where should you look to find the top civil engineering firms to work for? Read on to find out!
The very first thing to keep in mind when looking for your next civil engineering position is the pedigree of the company. This means how established the company is, because the larger firms will be more accommodating to newer staff that need some time to get accustomed to their new role than new start-ups will be. Top civil engineering firms will also more likely offer better remuneration packages than smaller companies, such as free health, dental and sight insurance, enhanced pension packages and extra holidays.
However, there can also be perks to working at a start-up that hasn’t found its feet yet. Since the firm is much smaller, it can sometimes have a much more relaxed and laid back atmosphere, you may also have a higher feeling of importance and more responsibilities, and working on new projects and sometimes even totally original products. There may also be less competition when applying for positions in smaller companies.

You will also want to check any surveys, ratings or reviews that there may be regarding the company on the internet. These can be found on multiple engineering job board sites, where past employees give honest feedback about what it is like to work for that particular company. If you are applying for a site-based position, it is critical that you check the company’s safety record, procedures and criteria, for your own safety. Robust safety processes and low accident rates are what you should be looking for here. Lastly, it is worth researching how the firm operates and its trading history to determine how ethical the company is. See if they have an adverse effect on the environment, and if they work in countries that abuse worker’s human rights. These factors should definitely play a part in your decision.
Below is the alphabetical list of the top civil engineering firms according to EngineeringClicks.
Arcadis
Arcadis is a big consulting firm that concentrates on sustainability and environmental projects. The can include design and build projects that can improve the standard of living in urban areas, like the creation of transit hubs. It is one of the most popular civil engineering companies to work for, as they offer a wide range of opportunities to prospective candidates. Civil engineers that want to get their career off of the ground, or those who are looking for a change of scenery will find Arcadis appealing.
They have worked on some amazon projects like the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Thames Water and the California High-Speed Rail. They provided a much needed helping hand in the construction of the tallest man-made structure in the world, the Burj Khalifa, giving an “independent peer review of the structural system of the tower”. There was some controversy around this build, as there were a number of suicides while construction was ongoing. Again, a firm’s ethical issues are definitely something to take into consideration when evaluating a new position.
Arup
Arup has been known in the civil engineering industry for having outstanding worker satisfaction, with nearly all workers having no desire to leave when employed there. This alone speaks volumes about the firm. They offer great initial training and then amazing career progression opportunities. Their compensation packages have also scored very highly, making them very competitive when looking for new talent.
Arup is a well-known company, with over 13,000 employees in more than 30 countries mainly across Europe, but also all over the world. It approaches projects with a creative outlook, resulting in cutting-edge projects and presents a great opportunity for the civil engineer that is up for the challenge.
Atkins
Atkins is another example of a civil engineering firm that takes care of its employees, and therefore has a decent satisfaction rating amongst them. The level of professional development and personal support are good, and Atkins has some major contracts like London’s Crossrail, which means there will be plenty of challenging and interesting engineering projects to work on.
Atkins has more than 300 offices in over 30 countries, meaning that you are not restricted to just London if you would like to work with them. Some locations include the Middle East, North America, Asian Pacific among more, and they involve pretty much every engineering discipline that you can think of.
Balfour Beatty
If you are interested in getting involved with large-scale infrastructure projects, then Balfour Beatty may be the right option for you. They are recognised around the world for their performance, and also their concentration on sustainability projects and helping communities to grow and prosper. They mostly work in the infrastructure development and construction industries.
They were the biggest company in the UK in 2018 in terms of profit, and they have acquired many other companies across the UK and America. Ethical issues may be an issue here as they have been involved in a number of controversial incidents over the years. They were known to be at fault for the Hatfield rail crash as they broke some health and safety procedures, by being in business with another firm who was in direct breach of the Data Protection Act.
Bechtel
If you are looking for a challenging career involving some interesting projects in even more interesting locations, the Bechtel may be an option for you. They are known for their work in Africa and also being the world-leading firm for structural construction, energy provision and design.
It is the biggest company in the US, and some of their projects include the Bay Area Rapid Transit public transportation system, the restoration of the Kuwaiti oil fields, the Hoover Dam and the Channel Tunnel. These are huge projects that all civil engineers will know and have changed the world that we live in today.
Hochtief
Hochtief is a Germany’s largest infrastructure and construction company and also globally, as it ranks as one of the biggest construction companies in the US through its Turner subsidiary. They employ over 70,000 employees all over the world, and they are involved in multiple industries including airport operations, finance, and construction planning.
They have been involved with many interesting projects around Europe including football stadiums, airports, and Poland’s first fully Polish libretto! It also has great reviews from past employees complementing the great advancement opportunities and relaxed working atmosphere.
Laing O’Rourke
Laing O’Rourke is another multinational company that has a strong presence across the Middle East, Asia and Europe. It is highly regarded for its graduate training program and continues the impetus on progression all the way through to its professional advancement opportunities.
Some notable projects that Laing O’Rourke have been involved in are the Ascot Racecourse, Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Heathrow’s Terminal 5. It has been involved in its fair share of court proceedings however, with them having subscribed to the illegal blacklist that was put forward by the UK’s Consulting Association. This led to a public apology back in 2016.
Mott McDonald
Mott McDonald is an engineering and construction company that is fast growing and always scores very high on employee satisfaction surveys and reviews. What makes it different that all of the other entries on this list is that it is employee owned. While this does not mean the employees are necessarily happy because they “own” the company, it does promote a great working environment which puts employee happiness and development at the forefront of their priorities. It also possesses a great graduate training program which always ranks well against its competitors.
Skanska
Enter Swedish efficiency. Skanska is a Swedish construction company that is well known all over the world. They are renowned for the positions of responsibility that they entrust new graduates with quite early in their careers. Some projects of note that Skanska have worked on previously include Pennsylvania Station, which is the busiest station in the Western Hemisphere.
Skanska also focuses on green projects, with their implementation of green procedures with their firm and consistently being ranked highly among the green builders in the world.
Vinci
Vinci is a French company that is one of the largest construction companies in the world. They employ over 180,000 people all over the world, working on huge projects like the multi-million dollar highway that was built in Atlanta, Georgia, and also some large projects in the oil and gas industry. Defining the “well-established” criteria, Vinci has been operational for over 115 years!
What do yout think about our list of top civil engineering companies to work for? Where do you think would be the best company to work in as a civil engineer? Do you have any experience working in any one of the above companies? Or do you think that the company that you currently work in deserves a place on this list? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. See you soon!
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FAQs
Which country has highest demand for civil engineers 2022? ›
Canada Has Highest Demand For Civil Engineers
Canada requires civil engineers. Canada's demand for civil engineers has never been greater with a growing economy.
- Aerotek. Aerotek provides workforce and HR solutions to organizations across the world. ...
- Bechtel. The biggest company in civil engineering is Bechtel, an American company that offers a wide range of services in engineering and construction. ...
- The US Army. ...
- Arcadis. ...
- Parsons Corporation. ...
- Kimley-Horn. ...
- HDR. ...
- Stantec.
- BALAJI INDUSTRIES. 3.5 ₹41,108per month. 17 reviews37 salaries reported.
- JMC Projects (India) Ltd. 4.0 ₹36,488per month. 123 reviews5 salaries reported.
- DCS GROUP. 3.7 ₹28,284per month. ...
- UltraTech Cement. 4.1 ₹27,415per month. ...
- DS Max Properties. 3.6 ₹26,118per month. ...
- Show more companies.
Therefore, geotechnical engineers are constantly in demand so long as there are ongoing building projects.
Which country needs civil engineers most? ›- Canada. Canada is a very popular country for engineers because of its robust economy and access to natural resources. ...
- India. ...
- China. ...
- France. ...
- New Zealand. ...
- United States.
Which countries have higher job opportunities for a civil engineer? Ans. Some countries with better job opportunities for a civil engineers are Switzerland, the United States, Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Singapore and the United States.
Who is No 1 civil engineer in world? ›1. Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. Well, it would be rude not to start with him, wouldn't it? Often referred to simply as, Sir MV, Visvesvaraya was, and indeed still is, a titan of civil engineering in India.
Is Elon Musk a civil engineer? ›Musk doesn't have an engineering degree - and kind of has a science degree.
Where is the best place for civil engineers to work? ›Los Angeles, Denver, and Houston still dominate the top 10 places to practice civil engineering. But two newcomers — Phoenix and Detroit — also made the list this year.
Which job has highest salary? ›- Medical Professionals (Doctors and Surgeons) Healthcare offers one of the highest salary jobs in India. ...
- Data Scientist. ...
- Machine Learning Experts. ...
- Blockchain Developer. ...
- Full Stack Software Developer. ...
- Product Management. ...
- Management Consultant. ...
- Investment Banker.
How much a Civil Engineer is paid? ›
As of Oct 6, 2022, the average monthly pay for a Civil Engineer in the United States is $6,800 a month.
What are 4 types of civil engineers? ›- Construction and management engineering. ...
- Geotechnical engineering. ...
- Structural engineering. ...
- Transport engineering. ...
- Water engineering.
Civil Engineers have good career prospects in both railways and CPWD. You should choose among these based on your preference. CPWD offers posting in big cities and metros. The work-life balance is better.
Can a civil engineer Be A Millionaire? ›Can a civil engineer become a millionaire? Yes. In the United States, a civil engineer is expected to become a millionaire. A civil engineer who makes a national average salary of about $65K and sets aside 15% of their income in a decent investment portfolio is expected to be a millionaire in about 25 years.
Which engineering has highest salary in world? ›- Systems Engineer. ...
- Electrical Engineer. ...
- Chemical Engineer. ...
- Big Data Engineer. ...
- Nuclear Engineer. ...
- Aerospace Engineer. ...
- Computer Hardware Engineer. ...
- Petroleum Engineer.
New Zealand is a large country with over 4 million citizens, but it still faces an engineering deficit in its work force, meaning that jobs for engineers in New Zealand are many and varied.
Does Google need civil engineers? ›You sure can get into google but not as a core civil engineer. You need to practice coding regularly on coding websites. Learn the concepts of C, C++ well. Coding alone won't be sufficient to get into Google.
Which engineering is best in 2025? ›- Civil engineering technician.
- Cartographer.
- Aerospace engineering technician.
- Industrial engineer.
- Agricultural engineer.
- Mechanical engineer.
- Marine engineer.
- Civil engineer.
Headquartered in San Francisco, Bechtel Corporation is the largest construction and civil engineering company in the United States.
What engineer is Tony Stark? ›
He is an Electronics Engineer. His suit runs on power greater than a nuclear reactor.
How should I introduce myself in civil engineering interview? ›Tell me about yourself? SUGGESTED ANSWER: “I am a professional, hardworking and resilient civil engineer who takes great pride in not only the quality of work I produce, but also the consistently high standards I aim to achieve for my employer.
What makes a civil engineer great? ›A good civil engineer knows his mathematics and physics especially when identifying and solving engineering problems. In addition, civil engineers train to be skilled in design techniques and working with maps, drawings, and models. More than adequate knowledge in computer-aided design software is required.
Is there a shortage of civil engineers in USA? ›Another cause of this shortage in civil engineers can undoubtedly be attributed to the pandemic. When many individuals began working from home, this expanded the labor pool hiring managers were used to. They no longer have to drill down the perfect candidate to a specific geographic area.
Are civil engineers in demand? ›Engineers build roads, bridges, utilities, water and wastewater treatment facilities, and energy generation sources, like wind, solar, natural gas, and power plants. And, civil engineers are in high demand.
Do civil engineers make a lot of money? ›According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average wage for a civil engineer is $88,570 per year.
What is the best paying job in 2022? ›- Architectural and Engineering Managers.
- Marketing Managers.
- Natural Sciences Managers.
- Petroleum Engineers.
- Podiatrists.
- Financial Managers.
- Sales Managers.
- Lawyers.
Civil engineers have to compete for contracts which requires salaries to remain at a fairly low level as firms compete to win. Regardless civil engineers live quite comfortably and do not have the market swings that other higher paying professions like finance have.
What is the starting salary for A civil engineer? ›Find out what the average Civil Engineer salary is
The average civil engineer salary in South Africa is R 758 304 per year or R 389 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 330 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 9 000 000 per year.
Some related job titles are Civil/Structural Engineer Salaries with median pay of NGN 200,000.
Why is civil engineering called civil? ›
In 1750 when the Military Engineer's started handling the work of civil infrastructure the term Civil engineering was coined. Also, it is said that as this branch of engineering deals with the construction and management of Civil infrastructures like buildings, dams, bridges, etc it is called Civil Engineering.
Which country is best for masters in civil engineering? ›Besides the US, Singapore is the best country for Master's in Civil Engineering. In Europe, England is the best country to do a Master's in Civil Engineering, however, the Netherlands, Italy, and Switzerland can also be great options.
What is the oldest branch of engineering? ›Often thought to be the oldest engineering discipline, civil engineering focuses on constructing, designing, and maintaining physical structures used by the public, such as dams, bridges, tunnels, roads, airports, subway systems, and water supply systems.
What is the main subject in civil engineering? ›Applied Mathematics | Applied Physics | Applied Chemistry |
---|---|---|
Building Material | Design of Reinforced Concrete Structure | Construction Management, Accounts and Entrepreneurship Development |
Electrical, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering | Environmental Pollution and Control | Earthquake Engineering |
The countries that offer the best and most widely respected civil engineering degrees include the US, UK and Singapore. These countries all offer some of the world's most highly ranked programs and are popular destinations for international students.
Which country has highest demand for civil engineers 2022? ›Canada Has Highest Demand For Civil Engineers
Canada requires civil engineers. Canada's demand for civil engineers has never been greater with a growing economy.
- Tongji University.
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
- Ton Duc Thang University.
- Tsinghua University.
- University Djillali Liabes Sidi Bel Abbes.
- Southeast University - China.
- National University of Singapore.
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Civil engineers with a master's degree earn a higher average salary than those with a bachelor's, typically earning an average of $126,673 a year. Moreover, the demand for civil engineers is expected to grow steadily in the coming years, growing by four percent in the next ten years.
Is Elon Musk a civil engineer? ›Elon Musk is of course so much more than simply a civil engineer and his exploits seem to increase year in year out. Engineer, industrial designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist - I could probably go on but I'll stop. He graduated in 1997 with two BA Honours degrees, one in Economics and the other in Physics.
Does UK need civil engineers? ›Ans. A high demand for Civil Engineers exists in the UK, and there are many job opportunities in this field. One of the primary reasons why there are so many international students who come to the UK to pursue degree courses in Civil Engineering.
Is UK good for civil engineers? ›
Studying Construction Engineering in the UK has a great career prospect, with growth potential. Salaries for Construction Engineers in the UK can range from £25,000 - £55,000 per annum. The job prospects for Construction Engineers are good, with increased demand due to the ongoing growth of the construction sector.
Does Canada need civil engineers? ›With a growing economy, the need for civil engineers in Canada has never been greater. Canada is the second-largest country in the world with a high demand for skilled engineers in the country. It offers skilled foreign nationals some of the world's most well-paying jobs.
Who is the 1st civil engineer? ›John Smeaton, the first man to call himself a civil engineer, began as an instrument maker. His design of Eddystone Lighthouse (1756–59), with its interlocking masonry, was based on a craftsman's experience. Smeaton's work was backed by thorough research, and his services were much in demand.
Which university is the best in civil engineering? ›- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Cambridge, United States. ...
- Delft University of Technology. Delft, Netherlands. ...
- National University of Singapore (NUS) ...
- University of California, Berkeley (UCB) ...
- University of Cambridge. ...
- Imperial College London. ...
- ETH Zurich. ...
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)
1) Low technical knowledge – Nobody is interested in following the old patterns. Nowadays every company is looking for a person with technical knowledge or having a good experience. Only a few engineers are out there with the abilities and knowledge needed to perform specific tasks.
What is a Civil Engineer salary UK? ›Jobs in Reed.co.uk, ranging from £36,359 to £46,868. Jobs that pay more than the average (£40,056).
Which course is best after civil engineering? ›- Civil Engineering Practical Training Course.
- City Planning or Town Planning Courses.
- Postgraduate after Graduation.
- Higher studies (MBA+Construction Management/Project Management )
- State Government Jobs.
- Software skills Courses.
As long as humans exist, the demand for building roads, houses, transportation, sewerage, canals, bridges, and dams are going to be there. Therefore, you can be rest assured that civil engineers are never going to be jobless be it in the present or in the future.
What is the best master degree for civil engineering in UK? ›Top 10 Universities in UK for Masters in Civil Engineering
University College London ( UCL) Imperial College London (ICL) University of Leeds. Cardiff University.
The average civil engineer salary in Canada is $77,792 per year or $39.89 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $62,303 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $110,052 per year.
Are civil engineers well paid in Canada? ›
Civil engineers (NOC 2131) usually earn between $26.44/hour and $62.98/hour in Canada. People working as a "civil engineer" are part of this group.
Which civil engineering is in demand in Canada? ›S No | Jobs | Average salary |
---|---|---|
1 | Project Manager | $84,250 |
2 | Civil Engineers | $67,001 |
3 | Mechanical Engineer | $66,327 |
4 | Geotechnical Engineers | $68,953 |