Decisionmaking skills. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. They must be able to then use their skill and training to develop cost-effective, safe, and efficient solutions. Although licensure requirements vary from state to state, civil engineers usually must be licensed if they provide services directly to the public. As current U.S. infrastructure experiences growing obsolescence, civil engineers will be needed to manage projects to rebuild, repair, and upgrade bridges, roads, levees, dams, airports, buildings, and other structures. Many civil engineers work for government agencies in government office buildings or facilities. That way, they can ensure compliance with the design documents. Geotechnical engineers work to make sure that foundations for built objects ranging from streets and buildings to runways and dams, are solid. Programs may include cooperative programs, also known as co-ops, in which students gain work experience while pursuing a degree. Applicants who gain experience by participating in a co-op program while in college will have the best opportunities. Civil engineers work with others on projects and may be assisted by civil engineering technicians. Engineers who direct projects may need to work extra hours to monitor progress on the projects, to ensure that designs meet requirements, and to guarantee that deadlines are met. Thus, as these new projects gain approval, civil engineers will be further involved in overseeing the construction of structures such as wind farms and solar arrays. In many states, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology also meets the academic requirement for obtaining a license. information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Transportation engineers plan, design, operate, and maintain everyday systems, such as streets and highways, but they also plan larger projects, such as airports, ship ports, mass transit systems, and harbors. More Information, Including Links to O*NET, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm, State government, excluding education and hospitals, Local government, excluding education and hospitals, Federal government, excluding postal service, Analyze long range plans, survey reports, maps, and other data to plan and design projects, Consider construction costs, government regulations, potential environmental hazards, and other factors during the planning and risk-analysis stages of a project, Compile and submit permit applications to local, state, and federal agencies, verifying that projects comply with various regulations, Oversee and analyze the results of soil testing to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, Analyze the results of tests on building materials, such as concrete, wood, asphalt, or steel, for use in particular projects, Prepare cost estimates for materials, equipment, or labor to determine a project’s economic feasibility, Use design software to plan and design transportation systems, hydraulic systems, and structures in line with industry and government standards, Perform or oversee surveying operations to establish building locations, site layouts, reference points, grades, and elevations to guide construction, Manage the repair, maintenance, and replacement of public and private infrastructure, A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years working under a licensed engineer, A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam. The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2019, which is the base year of the 2019-29 employment projections. The site is secure. Occasionally, civil engineers travel abroad to work on large engineering projects in other countries. The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Civil engineers will continue to play a key part in all of this work. The work of civil engineers is closely related to the work of environmental engineers. This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of civil engineers. Civil engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work. Civil engineers held about 329,200 jobs in 2019. The median annual wage for civil engineers was $83,540 in May 2016. Transportation engineers plan, design, operate, and maintain everyday systems, such as streets and highways, but they also plan larger projects, such as airports, ship ports, mass transit systems, and harbors. Math skills. Programs may include cooperative programs, also known as co-ops, in which students gain work experience while pursuing a degree. The projected percent change in employment from 2019 to 2029. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries. Though civil engineers must work in an office setting to produce their plans, they must also spend much time on site to oversee construction. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code. Additionally, civil engineers can become certified in building security and in sustainability. Last Modified Date: For more information on engineering managers, see the profile on architectural and engineering managers.