2010-2011 Occupational Outlook for Civil Engineers
Excerpts
reprinted from the
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Nature of the Work
Civil engineers design and supervise the construction of roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and water supply and sewage systems. They must consider many factors in the design process,from the construction costs and the expected lifetime of a project to government regulations and potential environmental hazards such as earthquakes and hurricanes. Civil engineering, considered one of the oldest engineering disciplines, encompasses many specialties. The major ones are structural, water resources, environmental, transportation, and geotechnical engineering. Many civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions, from supervisor of a construction site to City engineer. Others may work in design,construction, research, and teaching
Employment
In 2008 civil engineers held about 278,400 jobs.
Job
Outlook
Civil engineers are expected to have employment growth of 24 percent over the projections decade, much faster than the average for all occupations. Spurred by general population growth and the related need to improve the Nation's infrastructure, more civil engineers will be needed to design and construct or expand transportation, water supply, and pollution control systems, and buildings and building complexes. They also will be needed to repair or replace existing roads, bridges, and other public structures. Because construction industries and architectural, engineering, and related services employ many civil engineers, employment opportunities will vary by geographic area and may decrease during economic slowdowns, when construction is often curtailed.
Earnings
Average starting salary offers for civil engineers holding bachelor’s degrees were $52,048, according to a July 2009 Survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.