truest.me
Explore CareersSponsor Someone 🎁Log InSign Up
truest.me
AboutCareer Growth ToolsWays to access truestPricingSponsor people/teamsWho is truest for
Terms of useContactPrivacy policytruest is a public benefit company
Copyright © 2026, Truest.me. All rights reserved.
Browse Careers
Career Explorer →
Tracks
See all →
Admin & OfficeAgricultureArts & MediaBusiness OperationsConstructionEducationEngineeringExecutive LeadershipFacilitiesFinanceFood ServiceHealthcareHuman ResourcesLegalMaintenance & RepairMarketingOperationsPersonal CareProductionProtective ServicesReal EstateSalesScienceSocial ServicesTechnologyTransportation
Top industries
See all →
HealthcareAdministrative ServicesK-12 SchoolsHospitality & Food ServiceHospital SystemsRetailWholesale & DistributionCatering & Mobile Food ServicesProfessional ServicesHospitals & Medical CentersEducationRestaurants & DiningGovernmentManufacturingAmbulatory Healthcare ServicesAdministrative Support ServicesConstructionFinancial ServicesGeneral Merchandise StoresColleges & UniversitiesConsumer ServicesLocal Government ServicesFull-Service RestaurantsSpecialty Trade ContractorsTransportation & LogisticsReal Estate Services
Top metros
See all →
New York-NewarkLos Angeles-Long BeachChicago-NapervilleDallas-Fort WorthHouston-PasadenaWashington-ArlingtonAtlanta-Sandy SpringsPhiladelphia-CamdenMiami-Fort LauderdaleBoston-CambridgeSan Francisco-OaklandPhoenix-MesaSeattle-TacomaMinneapolis-St. PaulDetroit-WarrenRiverside-San BernardinoDenver-AuroraSan Diego-Chula VistaTampa-St. PetersburgOrlando-KissimmeeCharlotte-ConcordBaltimore-ColumbiaSt. LouisAustin-Round RockPortland-VancouverSan Jose-Sunnyvale
Careers›Roles›Transportation Design Engineer
Mid-Level

Transportation Design Engineer

The roads, intersections, and interchanges people drive every day were designed by someone, and you're the engineer laying out how traffic safely moves. Designing how people and traffic move.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
I
C
E
A
S
Realistichands-on, practical
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Transportation Design Engineers
RetailEntertainment & MediaProfessional Services · 57%Government · 23%Construction · 13%Administrative Services · 1%
Job markets for Transportation Design Engineers
Employment concentration · ~400 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Engineering
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Transportation Design Engineer

The work runs through designing roads, highways, intersections, and transit infrastructure, modeling traffic flow, ensuring safety and code compliance, and producing detailed plans. Your designs shape how thousands move every day, and safety and regulations constrain every choice, so the work is rigorous and accountable.

What surprises people is how much is regulation, public process, and coordination, not just engineering: standards, agencies, and stakeholders all weigh in. Projects move slowly, public scrutiny and politics come with the territory, and a design flaw carries safety stakes. Settings span firms, DOTs, and consultancies.

It tends to fit someone detail-oriented, safety-minded, and patient with process. If you want fast results or freedom from red tape, the slow public process can frustrate. But if you like designing infrastructure people use every day, and the weight of getting safety right, the work tends to be solid and impactful.

What people in this role value
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
SupportModerate
RelationshipsLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$117K+15%
Professional Services$103K+1%
Energy & Utilities$87K-14%
Financial Services$86K-16%
Wholesale & Distribution$74K-28%
Compared to Engineering average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Transportation Design Engineers (SOC 17-2051.01, 17-2141.02), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Engineering →
Transportation Design EngineerTransportation AnalystTransportation ConsultantTransportation SpecialistTransportation Technician (Transportation Tech)Transportation ModelerTransportation PlannerTransportation Data Programs ManagerTransportation Operations SpecialistAirway Transportation Systems Specialist (ATSS)Project EngineerResearch EngineerQuality EngineerQuality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer)Roadway EngineerProduct EngineerHighway Civil EngineerAutomotive EngineerCustomer Quality EngineerAutomotive Quality EngineerAutomotive Systems Engineer
Exploring the Transportation Design Engineer career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$66K–$161K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
642K
U.S. Employment
+7.05%
10yr Growth
42K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingTime ManagementJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
17-2051.0117-2141.02

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midTransportation Analyst$85KmidTransportation Consultant$100KmidTransportation Specialist$93KmidTransportation Technician (Transportation Tech)$75KmidTransportation Modeler$100KmidTransportation Planner$100K
View all Engineering roles →

Navigate your career with clarity

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.

Explore Truest career tools
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.