If you’re interested in working as a Civil 3D Coordinator, you’ll want to understand how much you’re likely to earn in this role. Salaries vary widely, however, most Civil 3D Coordinators are well-paid. Keep reading for more information about some of the factors that may influence your salary.

What is a Civil 3D Coordinator?

A Civil 3D Coordinator works with a Civil 3D design team to coordinate projects and ensure that they progress smoothly. This role includes a range of different tasks such as administration, communication, data management, research, and scheduling. More specifically, Civil 3D Coordinators provide training, implement standards, ensure compliance, set up workflows, offer technical support, and help protect company data. They work with a variety of different departments and help ensure that there is good communication between various team members. In addition, they communicate status changes with management.

Civil 3D Coordinators have experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, and are proficient in Civil 3D, which is an Autodesk software application used for civil engineering design and documentation. Civil 3D supports Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows for many different types of civil engineering projects including water, land development, roads, rail, and airports. Civil 3D Coordinators are also skilled in other applications used in civil engineering, such as AutoCAD, Navisworks, and Bluebeam. In addition, they have strong communication skills and can work well as part of a team.

What Affects Your Pay as a Civil 3D Coordinator

The pay range for Civil 3D Coordinators varies, and is affected by many different factors. These include your education, experience, employer, and the industry you work in. You can get some idea of Civil 3D Coordinator salaries by searching job postings online, however, keep in mind that every job is different.

Learn AutoCAD

  • Nationally accredited
  • Create your own portfolio
  • Free student software
  • Learn at your convenience
  • Career placement assistance
  • Authorized Autodesk training center

Learn More

Education

Your pay as a Civil Coordinator is likely to be influenced by your education. Some people enter this field after earning a college degree—such as a degree in civil engineering--and this is often associated with a higher salary, particularly if you have an advanced degree like a master's. However, attending college is not the only way to earn the skills that you’ll need to work as a Civil 3D Coordinator. Professional training programs like certificate courses and bootcamps are another great way to gain the appropriate skills for this profession. In recent years these types of programs have become increasingly popular because they are significantly quicker and less expensive than attending college. 

Experience

Another factor that is likely to affect your pay is your level of experience. In most cases, the more experience you have, the higher your salary is likely to be. The amount of experience required varies widely, however, in general, you can expect to need about two years of experience for an entry-level job, and more for a higher-level position. VDCI suggests that you should have about three to five years of experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry if you want to work as a Civil 3D Coordinator. There are ways to gain experience while you’re still getting an education. For instance, you can look for an internship or part-time job. Other options include volunteering or working on a side project.

Industry

Civil engineering jobs are part of many different industries including local and federal government, energy, oil and gas, and the construction industry. Your salary will be influenced by the industry that you work in, and the specific type of business that you work for. For instance, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), when it comes to earnings in the field of civil engineering, the oil and gas industry is the highest-paying industry to work for. Regardless of the industry, large companies may pay more than small companies. If you work as a freelancer, you will set your own pay rates, however, you’ll need to choose something close to the industry-standard in your area. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the majority of civil engineering jobs are at engineering companies. In addition, it reports that state and local governments are a major source of employment in this field. 

Location

Your salary will also be affected by where you work. In general, major metropolitan areas tend to pay more, however, they frequently have a higher cost of living too. According to U.S. News & World Report, “The metropolitan areas that pay the highest salary in the civil engineer profession are San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Redding, and New York.” It finds that the highest-paying states are California, New York, Alaska, Louisiana, and Massachusetts. BLS provides salary data for Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians, which is a category that includes Civil 3D Coordinators. It reports that the highest-paying states are California, Oregon, Washington, and Connecticut. According to BLS, the highest-paying metropolitan areas are San Francisco, San Jose, Modesto, and Washington, D.C.

Pay Range for Civil 3D Coordinators

Many different websites provide salary estimates, however, Civil 3D Coordinator is a less common job title and precise salary information can be more challenging to find than for some other types of jobs. The Virtual Design and Construction Institute reports that while salaries vary from state to state, on average a Civil 3D Coordinator earns about $60,000 to $70,000 yearly. Glassdoor is a popular website for salary estimates and provides an estimate for CAD Coordinator--which is a similar role--of about $84,000. ZipRecruiter provides salary estimates for some of the most popular job searches involving Civil 3D. It finds that pay for many of these positions range from about $60,000 to around $100,000. BLS provides salary estimates for Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians, which is a category that includes Civil 3D Coordinators, but also many other job titles. It finds that the median pay in this category is about $60,000 per year.

Learn the Skills to Become a Civil 3D Coordinator at Noble Desktop

The Virtual Design and Construction Institute (VDCI) offers a variety of training options for individuals looking to gain the skills needed to become a Civil 3D Coordinator. This school is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). Its online, self-paced classes allow you to create your own learning schedule. You’ll also be able to get advice and feedback on your submissions and projects, and interact with peers in discussion forums. VDCI classes are approved by Autodesk, Adobe, Trimble, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for elearning. 

  • VDCI offers three different Civil 3D classes. For each class, the instructor is a licensed Civil Engineer and also an Autodesk Certified Instructor. In Intermediate Civil 3D: Surveying and Mapping, you’ll learn about the surveying and mapping elements and commands in Civil 3D. Covered topics include survey and COGO points, point marker and label styles, point groups, linework code sets, figure prefix databases, survey imports, parcels, sites, parcel labels, TIN surfaces, surface labels, and surface analysis. Intermediate Civil 3D: Transportation Design is focused on the transportation design elements and commands in Civil 3D. Instructors cover alignments, surface profiles, design profiles, and view windows, assemblies, corridors, intersections, sample lines, cross sections, and 3D visualization. The third VDCI option is Intermediate Civil 3D: Land Development. This course covers land development design elements and commands such as drawing template files, data shortcuts, feature lines, grading groups, pipe networks, pressure networks, and paper space.
  • VDCI also has a more comprehensive Civil 3D Certificate Program. This nationally accredited program takes a number of months to complete and will equip you with the skills to develop and refurbish public sites and infrastructure systems with Civil 3D. It includes courses in both Civil 3D and AutoCAD. You’ll also take a number of elective courses and work on a capstone project. You’ll be exposed to real-world databases and will learn about file sharing and data management.
  • VDCI also offers a variety of AutoCAD classes. In Introduction to AutoCAD, you can learn the basics of this application. You’ll learn about the user interface and basic commands, including drawing, modifying, layering standards, text, dimensioning, and plotting. You’ll create drafting symbols, kitchen and bath fixtures, and a floor plan, and will integrate all of the information. Another option is Intermediate AutoCAD, which covers more advanced topics, including file referencing across the project data, user coordinate systems, dynamic viewing, and paper/model space conventions. You’ll create a set of CAD construction documents for a Habitat for Humanity project, including the floor plan, roof plan, foundation plan, electrical plan, and building elevations.
  • Another VDCI option is the Essential Skills Bundle. This bundle is a great way to improve your communication, teamwork, collaboration, and self-management skills, all of which are essential if you want to work as a Civil 3D Coordinator. Three classes are included. In Communication and Connection, you’ll learn a variety of communication skills including negotiation and conflict management. You’ll also work on your emotional intelligence and learn about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Self-Management Skills covers skills such as prioritizing, improving efficiency, focusing on ethics and integrity, and setting goals. Finally, in Teamwork, Collaboration & Leadership, you’ll learn to build collaboration, conduct meetings effectively, inspire other people, and make decisions as a group.

Noble Desktop is another place to learn AutoCAD. This coding and design school is based in New York City and offers live AutoCAD classes either in person or online. This school is licensed by the New York State Education Department and all of its classes come with a certificate of completion and the option of a free retake within one year. 

  • If you’re looking for a shorter course, Noble runs a multi-day class called AutoCAD Level 1, where you can learn to use AutoCAD’s basic drawing and editing tools to create drawings for architectural and mechanical objects. AutoCAD Level 2, is another short option. In this intermediate class, you’ll work on more advanced and technical projects. You’ll also learn how to create templates by setting units, drawing limits, and scales, and how to use the interface to complete advanced layer and block techniques. Noble also offers AutoCAD Level 3, an advanced course where you’ll learn about annotation, dynamic blocks and attributes, collaboration and publishing, and customization. In this class, you’ll learn to execute advanced AutoCAD projects from start to finish as well as how to use the program’s tools to increase efficiency. If you’d like a longer class, Noble also offers the AutoCAD Bootcamp, which is a combination of its beginner and intermediate classes, at a 10 percent discount. 
  • If you want a more comprehensive AutoCAD course, you might be interested in the AutoCAD Masterclass, where you’ll go from a beginner to an advanced level. This class begins by covering basic skills such as understanding the interface, creating drawings, using object snap tracking, and using editing commands. After that, you’ll learn more complex skills like working with templates and layouts, creating and organizing blocks, and using external references. The course also covers advanced AutoCAD skills, including tables, text objects, attributes, and dynamic blocks. In addition, you’ll work on a variety of projects.
  • Another Noble Desktop option is the AutoCAD Certification Program. This is designed for students who want to earn the Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design & Drafting. This program starts with three AutoCAD classes, which are intended to take you from beginner to advanced level. You’ll also receive six hours of private tutoring, where you can work on any difficult skills and make sure you are fully prepared for the exam. After that, you’ll take the Autodesk AutoCAD exam. The exam, proctoring, and a free retake are included in the course fee. If you don’t want to take the exam, you can opt for an extra hour of private tutoring instead.