Side-by-Side Comparison
Civil Engineers leads 5–0| Metric | Civil Engineers | Cost Estimators |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 27.9% | 37.0% |
| Risk Tier | Medium Risk | Medium Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 29th | 72th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 5 / 15 | 8 / 14 |
| Median Salary | $99,590 | $77,070 |
| Employment | 355K | 220K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
Design
Operations Analysis
Physics
Engineering and Technology
Problem Sensitivity
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Building and Construction
Visualization
Staffing Organizational Units
Analyzing Data or Information
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Civil Engineers
32%
total discount
Cost Estimators
29%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
Civil Engineers
5 of 15 at risk86%Estimate quantities and cost of materials, equipment, or labor to determine project feasibility.
53%Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
51%Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
51%Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures using computer assisted design or drawing tools.
50%Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
Cost Estimators
8 of 14 at risk87%Prepare cost and expenditure statements and other necessary documentation at regular intervals for the duration of the project.
86%Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
84%Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
66%Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors.
55%Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
Wage Comparison
Cost Estimators earns -$22,520(-23%) vs Civil Engineers
Civil EngineersCost Estimators
10th
$65,920$46,330
25th
$78,790$59,830
Median
$99,590$77,070
75th
$128,290$99,630
90th
$160,990$128,640
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Civil Engineers2028–2035
Cost Estimators2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Civil Engineers has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Cost Estimators.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Civil Engineers
$71,834
from $99,590
Cost Estimators
$48,593
from $77,070
After adjusting for AI risk, Civil Engineers offers $23,242 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Civil
0
Unique to Cost
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Creativity
Fine Manipulation
Social Intelligence
Decision Complexity
Civil EngineersCost Estimators