Civil engineering focuses on the design, construction, and maintenance of a variety of physical structures many people take for granted. As a civil engineer, you’ll have an opportunity to plan, design, and oversee the construction and maintenance of essential infrastructure, from critical transportation assets like bridges, roadways and airports to buildings, dams, power plants, sewage systems, and irrigation projects.
Civil engineers can have careers throughout the public and private sectors. In the public sector, civil engineers work with a variety of municipal and national governments. Civil engineers in the private sector can be found working in countless industries, including retail construction and real estate development.
According to the most recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil engineers earned a median salary of $83,540.
Civil Engineer Job Responsibilities
Being a civil engineer also means taking on a variety of different roles. You’ll work with fellow engineers to study the feasibility of various projects while leading construction managers, technicians, and surveyors to complete various objectives. Civil engineering requires a combination of technical knowledge, management, and organizational skills and mathematical knowledge. Strong communication and decision-making skills are a must, especially when it comes to projects that could have life-or-death consequences for their users.
Civil Engineer Specialties
Civil engineering encompasses a wide variety of technical sub-disciplines. A typical civil engineer may specialize in a particular discipline, such as structural engineering, construction engineering, or environmental engineering. Other sub-disciplines include geotechnical engineering, engineering mechanics, and coastal engineering. It’s not unusual for a civil engineer working in the public sector to practice multiple specializations for critical projects.
Civil Engineer Work Environment
Depending on the project you’re working on, your time is split between working indoors and outdoors. You’ll spend most of your time in an office setting planning designs and analyzing data with the help of other engineers and staff. Your time out in the field involves traveling to various job sites, monitoring, and directing the progress of various projects.
Most civil engineers rarely work set hours and the number of hours worked can exceed the set standard of 40 hours per week. You can also expect extensive travel between your home office, satellite offices, and work sites on a regular basis.
The life of a civil engineer can be a rich and rewarding experience. Contact us today at (952) 884-9199 and learn about the employment possibilities for civil engineering.