Basically, civil engineers use their math and physics skills to build things like roads, highways, and bridges in manners that are sustainable long term. It would not make much sense to build a highway if it is located too close to a flood plain because the road would constantly be in danger every flood season. Therefore, it is important that an engineer uses his or her skills to decide whether or not the road is sustainable in that area before it is actually built. The same can be said for bridges, as it would not make much sense to build a bridge in a location that makes it difficult to keep traffic moving. They also must come up with the right materials with which to build these bridges and come up with the best way of maintaining these structures long term. This means that anyone who wants these engineer jobs must be well versed in things like construction and how well certain materials stand up to abuse.
In order to get into engineering, you must, of course, have a solid educational background. This includes a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as mathematics or physics, and a number of high end courses that deal with engineering specifics. Since these engineer jobs will force you to have many different peoples' lives in your hands, you will want to make sure that you have the skills needed to keep these people safe. Mathematics are the best way to figure out how well a structure will stand up against the abuse that it is sure to take, as you must factor in things like gravity, erosion, the water's pressure, and many other environmental factors that will have an influence on the structure. These newer engineer jobs will call for you to use computer programs to decipher a structure's stability, which will help out with the overall design of the structure as well. You must be prepared to learn about these computer programs in school if you wish to truly be successful. You must be licensed to get an engineering job anywhere in the United States, as there is simply too much as risk if you do not have the proper education. This certification comes only with a bachelor's degree, four years of experience, and passing an exam, so becoming an engineer is definitely not an easy thing to do.
In the future, it looks as though there will be many more engineer jobs available than ever before. This is because the municipal, state, and federal governments all realize that the country's infrastructure must be upgraded and they are calling on civil engineers to be involved in this process. Many of the contracts that are handed over are worth millions of dollars and the only way to be in charge of these contracts is to have a background in engineering. Therefore, there is a lot of money to be made in this field, especially if you are able to get large contracts on your own and work as a freelancer in the field.
Only about 3% of civil engineers do this, however, as the majority of them work for government agencies or construction companies.
There is a lot of money to be made with these engineer jobs, as some of the highest earners make well over $100,000 per year. Even the lowest paid civil engineers make over $44,000, so you can definitely make a good wage right out of school. As the demand for those with an engineering background grows, we are sure to see more jobs available in this field. Because of this, there has never been a better time to become a civil engineer in the United States.
