Civil engineering employment is expected to grow overall in the next 10 years due to a variety of very important construction projects. Water supplies and pollution control will be on the forefront of priorities to help reduce the amount of pollution companies give off. Companies will want to continue to improve conditions and their overall productivity, so they will need civil engineers who are up to speed on the latest technologies and advancements in the field. As these new technologies become available, those who wish to enter a civil engineering career will need to be trained, and this will create even more openings in the future.
Civil engineering is an ever evolving field, so continuous education and training are needed to keep up with the increasingly advanced world we live in. Civil engineering employment will vary depending on geographical location as well. Cities that are on the verge of becoming more green and environmentally friendly will need to employee more civil engineers. Economic recessions will slow down civil engineering employment, but not to a major degree. Civil engineers can make between $46,000 and $104,000 per year depending on the levels of training and education they’ve achieved.
Earning a civil engineering degree at a university which is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Education and Technology, or ABET, will help you start your civil engineering career. ABET is responsible for observing and monitoring the quality of the civil engineering courses in these universities. Earning a CE degree will typically take about four years, and while one is in school, there are on-the-job training opportunities as well.
Now more then ever, civil engineering degrees are being offered online. In the first two years, a civil engineering program basically covers the social sciences, math, humanities, design, and the introduction into engineering. The next two years directly focus on civil engineering, and this is when students can find on-the-job training. After graduation, all civil engineers who offer their services directly to the public must pass the relevant state exam.
The starting salaries for people in civil engineering careers are among the highest in the United States. A civil engineer can make at least $45,000 in his or her first year alone. With advancement, a civil engineer who excels can make up to $105,000 per year. When you have the civil engineering career you want, the education should not stop there. Many companies can offer additional training programs to help you add to your value. This can lead to more independent and difficult jobs and more employer confidence in your abilities. Continuing on this path can help you to become a civil engineer manager/supervisor leading your own team on a project.
Civil engineers have to communicate with others to share ideas and plans, and when civil engineers become more experienced, they also have to manage others successfully. If your communication skills are particularly fine-tuned, you can become a sales engineer, selling and promoting new technologies. New products and technologies in the civil engineering field are highly complex and need qualified individuals to be able to explain them in detail.
While you can make a great living in a civil engineering career, you should understand that competition for these jobs will be fierce. Knowledge of the latest technologies and products will help you advance far, though. Civil engineers can be found in every single state. Growing cities and the economy play an important part in finding a good civil engineering job. It is vital that you remain flexible when searching, because jobs can open up in any state and city at any time. While you might not be able to pick up and move at the drop of a hat, be open-minded and don’t limit yourself to one area.
With continued growth, companies wanting to become more green, old buildings needing reconstruction, and bridges needing to be rebuilt, there will always be a place for civil engineers in the world. With your civil engineering degree, some passion, enthusiasm, dedication, and desire, you can create a new and improved world and move us further into the 21st century.
