As soon as you venture outside your house, chances are you’ll encounter or use a structure or utility that has been designed and built by civil engineers.
Civil engineers are responsible for the functionality of the world around us, ranging from bridges to buildings, from power plants to parking lots. As such, it’s a highly rewarding and responsible role.
If you’re thinking that civil engineering is a role that you can really sink your teeth into, then read on to learn more about the profession, what it entails, and how to get started and grow as a civil engineer.
What is a civil engineer?
A civil engineer’s job is critical. They design, build and maintain infrastructure projects like roads, tunnels, utility networks and buildings. They’re responsible for ensuring the functionality of these structures, planning for their safety and that of their users. The role offers a mix of strategic work and on-site project management.
What are the different types of civil engineers?
Civil engineering covers many different sectors and, as such, there are various types of civil engineers. Here are the main ones:
- Construction engineers manage both simple and complex construction projects, ensuring they’re completed safely, within budget and on time.
- Earthquake engineers design and build structures in regions that need to withstand seismic events.
- Environmental engineers specialize in projects that are heavily impacted by environmental considerations, such as water treatment or waste management.
- Geotechnical engineers study and manage projects that have a strong connection to the ground or earth materials, such as building foundations, fossil fuels, retaining walls and tunnels.
- Structural engineers work on projects that focus on structural integrity, such as how buildings can manage loads and how physical forces act on them.
- Transportation engineers manage transportation projects, such as road planning, constructing seaports, airports or railways, and even route planning and traffic flow.
What does a civil engineer do?
Being a civil engineer is a complex and nuanced role with many different responsibilities that add up to a critical function in today’s built-up world. Here are the six main areas of a civil engineer’s job description:
- Planning and design: Creating blueprints and designs for projects.
- Surveying: Investigating the locations of projects to understand risks and approaches.
- Managing construction: Project-managing construction works in terms of time, costs, safety and compliance.
- Regulatory compliance: Ensuring projects are legally and environmentally viable.
- Safety compliance: Designing and managing projects in line with safety and security codes.
- Maintenance: Ensuring existing structures are kept safe and functional, and designing refurbishment and rejuvenation projects.
What is their work environment like?
Civil engineers have a very atypical working environment. They’ll be partly based in an office, especially in the planning and administration stages of projects, as well as attending meetings.
They’ll also be expected to spend plenty of time on construction sites, monitoring and managing their projects. Another part of the role involves fieldwork, undertaking investigations and surveys as needed.
Working hours can vary as well. Office-based civil engineers might work a standard 9-to-5 working day, but time spent in the field might result in longer days or compressed hours, especially when deadlines are due or a project is overrunning.
What are the occupational hazards of civil engineers?
Civil engineers can be exposed to a variety of risks, not least of which is stress or burnout owing to the complexities and demands of the role.
Outdoor work might lead to risks of exposure to extreme temperatures. Working around construction sites will elevate the risks of working with or near heavy machinery, chemicals and electrical systems. There will be prolonged exposure to noise, other hazards such as water or heights, or working in confined areas.
Civil engineers may not be as exposed to these risks as construction workers, for example, but need to be acutely aware of their impacts.
How much do civil engineers earn?
Civil engineers are paid well due to the education and experience needed to execute the role effectively.
Salary scales can vary considerably depending on various factors. Trainee engineers take home a lot less than licensed and certified civil engineers, and some areas of civil engineering are paid more if they come with elevated risk or responsibility.
Civil engineers with specialized skills or expertise in niche areas of the profession, meanwhile, can also expect higher salaries, as can civil engineers with a track record of completing larger, more complex or higher-profile projects.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for a civil engineer is $48.64 per hour or $101,160 per year. More than 90% of the civil engineer workforce in the US makes $63,220 a year, while less than 10% earn an annual wage of $150,640, with a median annual wage of $95,890.
The top-paying industry for civil engineers, meanwhile, is pipeline transportation of crude oil, with a mean wage of $200,530.
Another variation in how engineers are paid is location. The top-paying state for civil engineers is California ($115,100), followed by New York ($113,610), Alaska ($110,940), Louisiana ($109,770) and Massachusetts ($108,320).
In a snapshot:
What is their job outlook?
The growth outlook for civil engineers is strong, with a constant need for civil engineering projects to be completed and the ongoing maintenance of existing structures. The BLS reports that, as of 2022, there are 326,300 civil engineers employed in the US. Of this, 96.5% (314,700) are employed through wage and salary employment, while the remaining 3.5% are self-employed.
By 2032, the total number of civil engineers is expected to increase by 5% to 342,500 roles, adding 16,200 new positions. The number of self-employed workers is expected to decline by 10.3% to 10,300 by 2032, while the number of wage and salaried civil engineers is expected to rise by 5.5% to 332,200.
What is the typical career path of a civil engineer?
A civil engineer’s career path might begin during university, with internships and co-op programs introducing civil engineering students to a professional setting.
After university, civil engineering students will become engineers-in-training and undertake further experience, perhaps in assistant or project roles, discovering which sectors and specialisms they gravitate towards. Up to this point, civil engineering work experience can count towards the experience needed to complete the Professional Engineer exam.
Once qualified as a professional engineer, civil engineers can undertake autonomous work in mid-level roles like senior engineer or project manager, delving deeper into their preferred sectors or specialisms. From here, civil engineers can gain progressive work experience and further certifications, becoming more senior and working on larger or more complex projects.
Senior roles could include consultant positions, engineering manager or chief engineer positions. Experienced civil engineers can also take on leadership roles, managing large teams and workstreams, eventually working up to C-suite positions such as chief technical officer.
What are the entry requirements?
Because of its complexity and level of responsibility, becoming a civil engineer requires careful planning and effort, starting early on. Here’s what to prepare for in terms of how to become a civil engineer, focusing on education, skills and qualities, licenses and certifications, and work experience.
Education
Prospective civil engineers will need to achieve good grades in high school, focusing on core subjects such as science and mathematics. A strong academic record here will lead to a wider choice of reputable universities.
Students will then need to pursue a civil engineering bachelor’s degree accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
Skills and qualities
Civil engineers need to draw upon a wide array of professional skills, including:
- Technical ability
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Collaboration abilities
- Problem-solving
- Flexibility
Civil engineers must also be creative, able to think outside the box and have the ability to influence a wide range of stakeholders.
Licensing and certifications
Civil engineers must first pass their Fundamentals of Engineering exam, followed by the PE exam. Both are necessary to become a licensed professional engineer.
Further exams may be required to specialize as a structural engineer. Additional certifications can be obtained through the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Work experience
Civil engineers should start by seeking out practical assignments, an apprenticeship or internships during university, including fieldwork opportunities. This practical experience can then be applied when seeking civil engineering opportunities at the undergraduate or engineer-in-training level.
What are the pros and cons of working as a civil engineer?
If you’re considering whether civil engineering is the right career for you, then this section weighs up the pros and cons of the role, helping you to decide.
Pros
- Job satisfaction: The role is rewarding and makes a significant contribution to society.
- Professional development: The profession offers a structured career path, including progressive work experience and a stimulating path to licensure.
- Salary and benefits: Civil engineers enjoy a competitive base salary and comprehensive benefit packages.
- Specialization: There are plenty of opportunities to specialize in types of civil engineering across a variety of industries.
- Varied working environment: Civil engineers spend their working week in a variety of settings.
Cons
- Adverse working conditions: Fieldwork can mean exposure to the elements and dangerous machinery.
- High responsibility: Civil engineers need to ensure structures are safe and can stand the test of time.
- Office politics: Some civil engineers need to navigate diplomatic and bureaucratic situations that can stifle or frustrate their plans.
- Stakeholder management: Civil engineers need to balance the needs and wants of various groups of stakeholders.
- Stressful working conditions: Civil engineers need to work to tight deadlines and balance multiple work streams at once.
Do you have what it takes?
Civil engineering isn’t for everyone, but if you’re interested in designing and construction (or grew up playing with LEGO), you’re technically minded, logical and curious, and you have a sprinkling of creative spirit, it could be the perfect role for you. You must also be academically minded and prepared to spend years studying for challenging exams.
If you’re wondering where your career interests and skills can lead to in terms of professional opportunities, consider taking CareerHunter’s assessments, a collection of tests created by psychologists that match your profile to career options, helping you navigate the complexities of finding the perfect job.
5 steps to become a civil engineer
Civil engineering is an exceptionally technical role that requires plenty of steps to become fully qualified. This section takes you through the five key steps needed to become a civil engineer.
Step 1: Focus on further education
Getting your educational foundation in order will make the next steps to becoming a civil engineer a lot more straightforward.
For starters, focus on the right subjects at high school, as hard work here will lead to a great bachelor’s degree at a leading institution. High school subjects to prioritize are mathematics and the sciences. Taking advanced placement means that you can take college-level courses at high school, and this can be highly beneficial too.
You ‘ll need to earn at least a bachelor’s degree to become a civil engineer, preferably one that is accredited by ABET. There are plenty of civil engineering programs and schools to choose from, and it goes without saying that these are the best routes into the profession.
During your program, you’ll focus on subjects like structural engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, construction systems and fluid mechanics, all of which will give you the specific expertise to start work in this career.
Step 2: Gain work experience
Gaining practical work experience is a great way to get your foot in the door of a civil engineering career. Many ABET-accredited undergraduate civil engineering programs will have extensive networks with companies and government organizations that can help you find internships.
Other civil engineering-related internships or apprenticeships will be advertised on job boards, and your university can help prepare you to apply for these. Note that some of these opportunities will be exceptionally competitive, so ensure you build a great résumé and prepare a thorough application.
Remember that civil engineering is a highly technical and practical career. Therefore, look for opportunities at university to get immersed into fieldwork and laboratory work opportunities. This might be completed as part of your coursework’ otherwise, you might need to look at elective selection or volunteering to participate in these opportunities.
Step 3: Begin your professional licensure
After you have completed your bachelor’s degree, you’ll be in prime position to start your FE exam, sometimes referred to as the Engineer in Training exam. This is the first step to becoming a licensed civil engineer.
How the FE exam is taken depends on your state. As a rule, it’s open to anyone who either holds or is in the final year of an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree, though some states will let anyone take the exam as long as they have a predetermined number of years’ relevant work experience.
Administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, the FE exam is a comprehensive assessment of your knowledge of engineering fundamentals. It consists of 100 questions and is taken over a 6-hour session. You’re assessed simply as “pass” or “fail”. Once you pass the exam, you’ll have earned EIT status, which is a prerequisite for obtaining the professional engineering license.
Step 4: Consider specializations and certifications
After you passed your FE, you might wish to go the extra mile and complete a master’s degree in civil engineering or a related discipline. Generally, civil engineers who have this level of education are a lot more marketable to employers.
As you work through your trainee-level work experience, start to investigate civil engineering specialisms that pique your interest. You might then want to move into these career avenues in the future.
You can take civil engineering specialism certifications. Many of these are available to enroll in via organizations like the ASCE. These can include subjects like coastal engineering, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering or navigation engineering.
Step 5: Complete professional engineer licensure
The second and final part of your civil engineering licensure is to pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam, also administered by the NCEES. Once you have completed this, you’ll be a qualified professional engineer. If you plan to become a structural engineer, you might need to also pass the Structural I and Structural II exams as well.
Taking this exam requires passing the FE exam and gaining EIT status, as well as having a few years of work experience, depending on the state you’re based in. The exam is 8 hours long, consisting of 4 sessions and a lunch break, with 40 questions per session.
Once you pass this exam, you’ll be granted the title of Professional Engineer and be able to take on your own projects, extra responsibilities and sign off on civil engineering works.
Key takeaways
Being a civil engineer is an incredibly rewarding and responsible role, one that can impact thousands, if not millions, of people. If you’re considering a career in civil engineering, here are the key tips to keep in mind:
- Becoming a civil engineer requires significant educational achievement and passing both the FE and PE exams.
- The role is surprisingly broad, covering various disciplines and sectors, which can influence salary and career growth.
- The role offers a varied working environment, comprising office work and time spent in the field, such as visiting construction sites.
- It’s vital to start your practical civil engineering experience early with internships and placements, as this can lead to a greater choice of opportunities in the future.
- Civil engineering is a career where you never stop learning, with further certifications available via the ASCE.
Keep these points in mind, and carefully prepare and plan for a career in civil engineering, and you’ll discover a role that will keep you developed and rewarded in countless ways. Good luck!
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