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Occupations / Civil Engineering Draftspersons And Technicians

Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians

Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians assist in civil engineering research, design, construction, operations and maintenance.

Trades & constructionLicensed workANZSCO 3122
$1,730/wkMedian full-time pay
14kPeople employed
+11% ▲Growth to 2035
92%Work full time
39Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3122.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

preparing sketches, charts, tabulations, plans and designs for civil engineering works such as drainage, water supply, sewerage reticulation systems, roads, airports, dams, bridges and other structuresperforming and directing fieldwork and laboratory testinginterpreting work assignment instructions, applying appropriate procedures and selecting equipmentcollecting and analysing data, and carrying out computationsestimating material costs and ensuring finished works are within specifications, regulations and contract provisionsinspecting civil engineering works, and organising and supervising maintenance and repair work
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 3122 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 1,800 more people in civil engineering draftspersons and technicians by 2035 ▲

The field shrank 2.6% in the year to February 2026, losing about 400 workers. Most of the jobs are in NSW and QLD, with WA third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3122.More about our sources: How we check our facts
16k2025
16.9k2030 PROJ.
17.8k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

Most civil engineering draftspersons and technicians came through a certificate or diploma. 53% did.

A university degree is rare here: 25% hold one. The trade qualification is the standard way in. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 3122. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

RII60520Advanced Diploma

Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design

Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package · licensed work.

See 184 providers
RII50520Diploma

Diploma of Civil Construction Design

Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package · licensed work.

See 106 providers
RII50420Diploma

Diploma of Civil Construction Management

Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package · licensed work.

See 10 providers

Licensed work: several of these courses lead to work that also needs a state or territory licence. Training is the first step; licensing rules are set by each state.

See all 10 mapped courses
RII60520Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design · 184 providers
RII50520Diploma of Civil Construction Design · 106 providers
RII50420Diploma of Civil Construction Management · 10 providers
52950WAAdvanced Diploma of Civil and Structural Engineering · 3 providers
52951WADiploma of Civil and Structural Engineering · 3 providers
RII60620Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction · 2 providers
22700VICAdvanced Diploma of Engineering Technology · 2 providers
22699VICDiploma of Engineering Technology · 2 providers
52896WAAdvanced Diploma of Civil and Structural Engineering (Materials Testing) · 1 provider
RII40820Certificate IV in Civil Construction Design · 1 provider

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

14k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

Each link opens seek.com.au in a new tab, showing ads posted in the last month. SEEK is a job site; we link there because that is where most Australian jobs are advertised. We have no commercial relationship with SEEK.

Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3122.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

NSW4k
QLD3k
WA2.3k
VIC1.6k
SA1.1k
NT0.2k
TAS0.2k
ACT0.2k