Best Companies for 12B Combat Engineers: Top Construction Employers (2025)
Top 25+ companies actively hiring 12B Combat Engineer veterans with salaries $70K-$180K+. Includes construction, engineering firms, infrastructure, and project management.
Bottom Line Up Front
12B Combat Engineers are actively recruited by 25+ major construction, engineering, and infrastructure companies offering salaries from $70,000-$180,000+. Best employers provide: veteran hiring programs, apprenticeship support, sign-on bonuses ($5K-$20K), advancement to project manager/director roles, and excellent benefits. Top sectors: Construction Companies ($80K-$160K), Engineering Firms ($85K-$170K), Project Management ($95K-$175K), Infrastructure ($90K-$165K). Companies like Bechtel, Fluor, Turner Construction, Jacobs, and major construction firms actively recruit 12B veterans for construction and project management roles.
Why Companies Recruit 12B Veterans
Major construction companies understand: 12B Combat Engineers bring construction expertise, project management discipline, team leadership, and safety culture that civilian workers cannot match.
You've managed construction operations, understood building materials, operated heavy equipment, coordinated crews, managed timelines, and understood safety protocols. Companies recruiting 12B veterans get:
- Construction operations understanding and expertise
- Project management and coordination skills
- Team leadership and crew management
- Safety discipline and compliance
- Equipment operation proficiency
- Problem-solving under pressure
- On-time delivery mindset from military operations
The companies below actively recruit combat engineers and provide clear advancement paths to project management and leadership roles.
Major Construction Companies
1. Turner Construction
- Entry positions: $75K-$95K
- Superintendent: $95K-$130K
- Project Manager: $120K-$170K
- Senior Manager/Director: $160K-$220K+
- Largest construction company (US revenues)
- Military veteran program
- Clear path to executive leadership
2. Bechtel Corporation
- Engineer: $85K-$120K
- Project Manager: $120K-$170K
- Senior PM/Director: $170K-$240K+
- Global engineering and construction
- Veteran recruiting program
- Infrastructure and major projects
- Executive advancement available
3. Fluor Corporation
- Engineer: $80K-$115K
- Project Manager: $115K-$165K
- Senior Manager: $160K-$230K+
- Global engineering and construction
- Veteran hiring emphasis
- Government and commercial projects
- Career development programs
4. Kiewit Corporation
- Superintendent: $85K-$120K
- Project Manager: $120K-$170K
- Senior PM: $170K-$240K+
- Major heavy civil contractor
- Veteran recruitment
- Quality and safety focus
5. Skanska USA
- Superintendent: $80K-$115K
- Project Manager: $115K-$160K
- Senior Manager: $160K-$210K+
- Building and infrastructure
- Veteran hiring programs
- International opportunities
Engineering and Construction Firms
6. Jacobs (formerly Jacobs Engineering)
- Engineer: $80K-$120K
- Project Manager: $120K-$170K
- Senior Manager: $170K-$240K+
- Global engineering and construction
- Government and commercial work
- Veteran program
- Career growth
7. AECOM
- Engineer: $75K-$115K
- Project Manager: $115K-$165K
- Senior Manager: $165K-$230K+
- Design and engineering firm
- Veteran recruitment
- Diverse project types
- Global scope
8. DPR Construction
- Superintendent: $85K-$125K
- Project Manager: $125K-$175K
- Senior PM: $175K-$250K+
- General contractor focus
- Quality culture
- Veteran hiring
- Growth opportunities
9. McCarthy Holdings
- Superintendent: $80K-$120K
- Project Manager: $120K-$170K
- Senior Manager: $170K-$240K+
- General contractor
- Midwest and national presence
- Veteran program
- Leadership development
10. HDR Inc. (Engineering)
- Engineer: $75K-$115K
- Senior Engineer: $115K-$160K
- Project Manager: $130K-$190K+
- Design and engineering
- Veteran recruitment
- Infrastructure focus
Heavy Civil and Infrastructure
11. Shelly & Sands
- Superintendent: $85K-$130K
- Project Manager: $130K-$180K
- Heavy civil contractor
- Aggregate and asphalt
- Veteran hiring
- Regional leadership
12. Sealaska Corporation
- Superintendent: $85K-$125K
- Project Manager: $125K-$175K
- Native corporation contractor
- Native American veteran hiring
- Government and commercial
- Advancement opportunities
Specialty Contractors
13. Barnard Contractors
- Superintendent: $80K-$120K
- Project Manager: $120K-$170K
- Heavy construction specialty
- Veteran recruitment
- National scope
- Growth company
14. Orion Group Holdings
- Superintendent: $85K-$125K
- Project Manager: $125K-$175K
- Heavy civil and dredging
- Specialty contractor
- Veteran hiring
- Good benefits
Government Construction Contractors
15. Fluor Federal Services
- Engineer: $80K-$120K
- Project Manager: $120K-$170K
- Government project focus
- Department of Defense
- Federal contracting stability
- Security clearance continuation
16. Huntington Ingalls Industries
- Engineer: $85K-$125K
- Project Manager: $125K-$175K
- Government contractor
- Shipbuilding and defense
- Veteran program
- Security clearance valued
17. CACI International (Construction Services)
- Engineer: $80K-$115K
- Manager: $115K-$165K
- Government contracting
- Federal projects
- Stability and benefits
Project Management and Construction Management
18. RCI (Residential Construction)
- Superintendent: $85K-$125K
- Project Manager: $125K-$170K
- Home building focus
- Regional presence
- Career advancement
19. Toll Brothers (High-End Construction)
- Superintendent: $90K-$130K
- Project Manager: $130K-$180K
- Luxury home builder
- Premium compensation
- Career development
Specialty Construction
20. Willscot Mobile Mini (Modular)
- Site Manager: $80K-$115K
- Regional Manager: $115K-$160K
- Modular construction
- Growing industry
- Veteran hiring
21. Mesa Royalty Trust (Related)
- Construction and engineering roles
- Oil and gas infrastructure
- Specialty work
How to Maximize Your Chances
1. Highlight Construction Management Experience
Don't write: "12B Combat Engineer, built fortifications"
Do write: "Construction and project management professional with expertise in construction operations, crew leadership, equipment operation, scheduling, and safety compliance for complex construction projects"
2. Emphasize Key Skills
- Project management and coordination
- Crew leadership and supervision
- Equipment operation and management
- Safety compliance and OSHA
- Schedule management and coordination
- Cost awareness and budgeting
- Quality assurance
- Numbers: "Managed 50+ person crews," "Led $5M+ projects," "Achieved zero safety incidents"
3. Relevant Certifications
- OSHA 30-hour - Safety foundation
- Project Management Professional (PMP) - Advanced
- Certified Construction Manager (CCM) - Industry recognized
- GI Bill covers certification costs
4. Strategic Application
- Apply to 20-30+ construction firms
- Target superintendent and project manager roles
- Don't just pursue entry positions - target management
- Build toward director and executive roles
- Emphasize safety record prominently
5. Geographic Flexibility
- Major markets pay premium: New York, LA, San Francisco, Chicago
- Strong regional opportunities throughout US
- Consider cost of living vs. salary
- Project-based work may require relocation
Salary Progression Summary
Entry-Level:
- Superintendent/Foreman: $75,000-$100,000
- Site Engineer: $70,000-$95,000
Mid-Level (3-5 years):
- Senior Superintendent: $100,000-$140,000
- Project Manager: $120,000-$170,000
Senior-Level (5-10 years):
- Senior Project Manager: $150,000-$200,000
- Director of Operations: $170,000-$250,000+
Executive (10+ years):
- VP Construction: $200,000-$350,000+
- Executive Leadership: $300,000-$500,000+
Bonuses/Profit Sharing: 15-30% of base common in construction
Bottom Line for 12B Combat Engineers
Your construction and project management expertise is highly valued by America's major construction and engineering firms.
Immediate opportunities (30-90 days): Superintendent and engineer roles ($75K-$100K), project coordinator positions
Medium-term (1-3 years): Project manager roles ($120K-$175K), senior superintendent positions
Long-term (3-10+ years): Director and VP positions ($170K-$300K+), executive construction leadership ($300K-$500K+)
Your combat engineer background gives you advantage in understanding complex project operations that construction firms value.
Ready to apply to construction companies? Use the career planning tools at Military Transition Toolkit to research firms, prepare applications, and track opportunities.