Civil Engineers: Career Information, Job Description, Education & Job Prospects

The field of civil engineering offers diverse career possibilities. Civil engineers are formally educated and trained to plan and design harbors, tunnels, bridges, buildings, highways, airfields etc. These engineers may either be involved in field work or perform their work in offices. Their job responsibilities may also combine both the aspects. Professionals can be employed by government agencies (federal, state and local), private construction companies and architectural firms. Civil engineering is a wide ranging field. Civil engineers can also choose to specialize in an area of their interest - construction, environmental, hydraulics, transportation, structural etc.

Job Description
With the increase in population, the requirement for construction and repair of roads, bridges, buildings and other similar structures also increases. Besides planning and designing of a variety of construction projects, civil engineers are also responsible for administrative and supervisory jobs. Some of the civil engineers are also involved in teaching jobs at professional schools, colleges and universities.

Most of the time, civil engineers are employed close to commercial and industrial centers. While some projects are to be completed inside the country, some others may be located outside the country. Many times construction and supervisory engineering work need to be done in remote areas. Depending on the project requirement, civil engineers may need to travel from one place to another.

Civil engineers work in close contact with professionals including architects, other engineers and the construction team. While working on urban planning projects, civil engineers make use of their specialization skills and techniques. In addition to performing their job responsibilities, these engineers also need to take into consideration the safety concerns of thousands of people. More than half of all the civil engineers are employed architectural and engineering firms where their main work responsibilities include designing and development work of different construction projects.

Educational Requirement & Training
A bachelor degree in civil engineering is the standard requirement to land jobs in this field. Candidates need to obtain the engineering degree from an accredited institution or college. Before getting enrolled in the degree program, students should remember to go through the coursework. Besides acquiring the civil engineering degree, candidates also need to meet the licensing requirements of the state where they work. Candidates should select a program that focuses on their specific areas of interest. During the course, students are trained in areas like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, structural design and circuitry among others.

Requirements of qualifying for the licensure are as follows -

Completion of a degree program approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET)
Four years of professional working experience
Passing the state licensing examination (Fundamentals of Engineering exam & Principles and Practice of Engineering exam)

For the advancement of engineering career, professionals can also go for additional specialized courses in areas like construction engineering and management, water resources management and transportation among others. Other skills that candidates need to possess include excellent communication skills, logical thinking skills and innovative skills.

Career Prospects in Civil Engineering
Job prospects for civil engineering jobs are strong. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate for these jobs is expected to grow at an increasing rate of 18% through to the year 2016. With the expanding growth in country's population, the need for expansion in transportation systems, water supply systems, buildings and other similar structures has also immensely increased. Whether it is the government agencies or the private sector, employment opportunities for civil engineers are abundant.

Annual Salary
Salaries of civil engineers vary depending on the geographical location, where they are employed (government or private sector), their additional certification and experience. The annual salary of these professionals ranges between $44,205 and $62,128. With growing skill set and experience, professionals can earn a higher annual salary.