Stormwater Engineer

Career Guide

A Stormwater Engineer designs and manages systems that collect, treat, and safely release rainwater runoff. The goal is to reduce flooding, protect water quality, and meet local and federal regulations for new and existing sites.

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Key Responsibilities

Design stormwater drainage systems for roads, developments, and public spaces
Model runoff flows for different storm events and site conditions
Size and specify stormwater treatment features such as ponds and filters
Create erosion and sediment control plans for construction sites
Prepare permit packages and support regulatory approvals
Review site plans to confirm stormwater compliance and constructability
Coordinate with civil engineers, planners, surveyors, and contractors
Inspect construction work and resolve field issues related to drainage
Support flood risk reduction studies and drainage master planning
Document designs with reports, calculations, and plan sets

Top Skills for Success

Hydrology

Hydraulics

Stormwater Modeling

Drainage Design

Water Quality Management

Erosion Control

Regulatory Compliance

Permitting

Civil Design Drafting

Technical Writing

Project Management

Stakeholder Communication

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Stormwater Project Engineer

Drainage Engineer

Water Resources Engineer Civil Project Manager

Stormwater Program Manager

Transition Opportunities

Municipal Engineer

Floodplain Manager

Watershed Planner

Environmental Engineer

Resilience Engineer

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Local Stormwater Regulations KnowledgePermit WritingConstruction InspectionGreen Infrastructure DesignCost EstimatingPublic Meeting Communication

Development SuggestionsBuild familiarity with your region’s stormwater manuals and permit requirements, practice producing complete permit-ready plan sets, and seek field time during construction to understand how designs perform. Add one green infrastructure project to your portfolio and strengthen cost and schedule awareness through project budgeting support.

Market Intelligence Report

Stormwater Engineer is part of the Civil Engineering category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 65,000 to 85,000

Mid LevelUSD 85,000 to 115,000

Senior LevelUSD 115,000 to 150,000

Growth Trend

Steady growth. Demand is supported by aging infrastructure upgrades, climate resilience projects, flood mitigation funding, and stricter stormwater compliance requirements.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

AECOMWSPJacobsStantecHDRArcadisTetra TechKimley-HornBurns and McDonnellMunicipal public works departments

Industry Sectors

Civil engineering consultingTransportation infrastructureMunicipal governmentLand developmentWater and wastewater utilitiesEnvironmental servicesConstruction engineering support

Recommended Next Steps

Create a portfolio with two to three stormwater plan examples and short summaries of outcomes

Strengthen modeling skills with one commonly used stormwater modeling tool and document your assumptions clearly

Review your local stormwater design manual and identify the most common permitting pathways

Ask to join construction site visits to learn drainage installation and inspection requirements

Pursue Engineer in Training status if early career and plan a path to Professional Engineer licensure

Join a professional association chapter focused on water resources and attend one technical talk per month