Civil Engineer Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Civil engineers in Tucson design around two desert facts: Colorado River water delivered by canal and stored underground, and monsoon storms that turn dry washes into rivers. Pima County, Tucson Water and the consulting firms that serve them anchor the hiring. Current openings are below, followed by employers, pay and licensing.
Current Civil Engineer Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Civil Engineer Work in Tucson
Tucson Water brings in Central Arizona Project water and recharges it into the aquifer west of the city through its Clearwater recharge and recovery program, so pipelines, wells and recharge basins are everyday civil work here. Pima County's Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department runs the sewer collection system and pump stations across the metro, and the Regional Flood Control District answers for the washes that flood during the summer monsoon. Almost every site plan in the county has to show where the water goes in a big storm.
On the private side, consulting firms with Tucson offices design roads, subdivisions and utilities for growth in Marana, Sahuarita and Vail, and contractors build that work on the ground. South along I-19, Freeport-McMoRan's Sierrita mine near Green Valley hires its own civil engineers, and Hudbay's Copper World project southeast of the city received construction approval in October 2026, which points to more mine-side civil work in the years ahead.
Top Tucson Employers for Civil Engineers
These Tucson-area employers hire civil engineers:
- Pima County - the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department and the Regional Flood Control District hire engineers for sewer collection, pump stations, drainage and roadway review.
- City of Tucson and Tucson Water - Tucson Water's Planning and Engineering Division runs civil engineers and project managers on its capital improvement program.
- Kimley-Horn - roadway, intersection and stormwater design out of its Tucson office.
- AECOM - hydrology, hydraulics and transportation civil engineering from Tucson.
- WestLand Engineering and Environmental Services - water and wastewater master plans, design and land development from its Tucson office.
- Sundt - contractor-side field engineers who handle drawings, RFIs and submittals on Tucson building projects.
Civil Engineer Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level (0-3 years, EIT): roughly $62,000 to $78,000 per year.
- Experienced (4-8 years, licensed PE): roughly $80,000 to $110,000 per year.
- Senior or project manager (8+ years): roughly $105,000 to $140,000 per year.
Federal wage data for the Tucson metro (May 2023) counted about 600 civil engineers with a median of $41.38 an hour. Recent Tucson postings line up with those bands: Pima County hires licensed Engineer I staff at $76,876 to $92,268, AECOM posted a hydrology and hydraulics role at $85,000 to $110,000, and WestLand posted a water and wastewater engineer at $95,000 to $125,000. A PE license is the biggest lever. Consulting firms tend to pay more in cash, while Pima County and the City of Tucson add public retirement benefits. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
How to Become a Civil Engineer in Tucson
The local degree is the civil engineering program in the University of Arizona's Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics. Pima Community College's Pre-Engineering Associate of Science at the West Campus covers the first two years for students who plan to transfer. After an ABET-accredited degree, you pass the NCEES FE exam and register as an Engineer in Training with the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration, then build experience under licensed engineers and pass the PE exam. The Board's registration rule sets an eight-year active engagement requirement in your branch of engineering, so ask the Board how your degree counts toward it. A PE license is required to seal civil drawings in Arizona, and many public and consulting jobs ask for one: Pima County's Engineer I posting requires PE registration, and Kimley-Horn's Tucson roadway posting asks for a PE or the ability to get one within 12 months.
What the Job Involves
Design days are Civil 3D and drainage modeling: grading a site, routing a storm drain, sizing a culvert under a wash, then assembling a plan set that survives City of Tucson or Pima County review. Field days mean site visits, construction observation and answering RFIs with a contractor waiting. Public-sector engineers spend more time on plan review, bid packages, contract administration and coordination with utilities.
Skills Employers Look For
- Civil 3D, AutoCAD and MicroStation or OpenRoads for roadway work
- Hydrology and hydraulics for Pima County drainage review
- Knowledge of Pima County and City of Tucson development standards
- EIT status early and a PE license by mid-career
- Cost estimating, bid documents and contract administration for public work
- Field tolerance: construction observation in a Tucson July is part of the job
Career Path and Advancement
The Tucson path runs engineer in training, licensed PE, project engineer, project manager, then principal or department lead at a consulting firm. Public-sector engineers climb the Engineer I, II and III ladder at Pima County or move into engineering management at Tucson Water. Moving between consulting and the county or city in mid-career is common, since firms value engineers who know how the local reviewers think. Water and wastewater work is the specialty with the steadiest local demand.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for civil engineers:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a PE license to be a civil engineer in Tucson?
To start, no: graduates work as Engineers in Training under licensed engineers. To seal drawings, yes, and many Tucson employers want one sooner. Pima County's Engineer I posting requires PE registration, and Kimley-Horn's Tucson roadway posting asks for a PE or the ability to get one within 12 months.
How long does it take to get a PE license in Arizona?
The Arizona State Board of Technical Registration sets an eight-year active engagement requirement in your branch of engineering, plus the PE exam. You pass the FE exam first to register as an Engineer in Training. Ask the Board how your degree and EIT years count toward the eight.
Which Tucson employers hire civil engineers?
Pima County, through its wastewater and flood control departments, and the City of Tucson through Tucson Water are the main public employers. Kimley-Horn, AECOM and WestLand hire on the consulting side, and Sundt hires field engineers on the contractor side.
How much do civil engineers make in Tucson?
Federal data put the Tucson median at $41.38 an hour in May 2023, about $86,000 a year. Recent local postings run from about $77,000 for a licensed Pima County Engineer I to $125,000 at the top of a WestLand water and wastewater range. Experience and a PE license move pay the most.
Can civil engineers work for the mines around Tucson?
Yes. Freeport-McMoRan has posted Civil Engineer II jobs at its Sierrita operation near Green Valley, and Hudbay's Copper World project southeast of Tucson was approved for construction in October 2026. Mine work adds safety training and field time to the usual civil workload.
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