Civil Engineer

Your Fit

Income

$99K

Preparation

Considerable

Growth

5.0%

Definition
Your fit with this career
How much they earn
What they do
Job satisfaction
How to become

What is a Civil Engineer?

Civil Engineers design, build, supervise, and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector. This includes roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.

Sample job titles:

Civil Engineer, Design Engineer, Project Engineer, Structural Engineer

Your test results

Why this fit score?

The fit report shows your areas of fit and misfit with Civil Engineer.

Fit report

Test scores

The scores report summarizes what we learned about you. It shows your results on everything measured in the career test.

Scores report

How much does a Civil Engineer earn

Income data is from Employment and Social Development Canada's 2024 wage tables. The closest match for this career in Canada’s occupational classification system is Civil Engineer.

Bottom 10%	Bottom 25%	Median (average)	Top 25%	Top 10%
$60K per year	$75K per year	$99K per year	$122K per year	$154K per year

Compared to other careers: Median is $34K above the national average.

See income by country/state/province

What does a Civil Engineer do?

Work environment

Civil Engineers typically work in a variety of settings including offices for design and planning, construction sites for project management and supervision, and government agencies for public works. They may also work for engineering consulting firms or construction companies. The role often involves collaborating with architects, urban planners, and construction managers.

Quick task list

Designs and plans infrastructure projects.
Analyzes survey reports, maps, and other data to plan projects.
Considers construction costs, government regulations, potential environmental hazards, and other factors in planning stages and risk analysis.
Supervises and monitors the construction of projects to ensure compliance with design specifications.
Assesses and recommends building and construction materials.

See full list of tasks with expert relevance ratings

Areas of specialization

Structural Engineering: Focusing on the design and integrity of buildings and large structures.
Transportation Engineering: Specializing in the design and construction of roads, highways, airports, and transit systems.
Environmental Engineering: Concentrating on projects that improve environmental quality, including water and waste management.
Geotechnical Engineering: Dealing with the behavior of earth materials and foundations for structures.
Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering: Focusing on water-related projects like dams, flood control, and water supply systems.

Description

Civil Engineers are key players in the development of a society's infrastructure. They apply principles of physics and mathematics to create functional, safe, and sustainable structures and systems. Civil Engineering requires not only technical expertise but also creativity and innovation to solve complex problems. They must consider many factors in their designs, including costs, environmental impact, and regulatory requirements.

The field offers a mix of office work and on-site project management. While office work involves planning, design, and collaboration with other professionals, on-site work includes supervising construction, ensuring project adherence to plans, and problem-solving on the ground. This blend of work environments provides variety and practical application of engineering principles.

Civil Engineers must have strong analytical skills to interpret data and make design decisions. Communication skills are also critical, as they must effectively convey project details to team members, clients, and stakeholders. The profession requires continuous learning to stay abreast of new technology and engineering methods.

Job Satisfaction

Sources of satisfaction

Playing a crucial role in shaping and improving communities through infrastructure development.
Seeing tangible results of one's work in the form of completed structures and systems.
Solving diverse and challenging engineering problems.

You might make a good Civil Engineer if you are...

Interested in designing and building structures or systems.
Good at mathematics and physics.
Detail-oriented and enjoy solving complex problems.
Able to work well both independently and in a team environment.
Strong in communication and project management skills.

Pros:

Varied work with opportunities to work on a wide range of projects.
High demand for civil engineering skills in many sectors.
Career satisfaction from contributing to essential public and private infrastructure.

Cons:

Can involve long hours and work under challenging conditions at construction sites.
Requires keeping up with continuous changes in technology and regulations.
Responsibilities in civil engineering can be demanding, bearing a significant impact on public safety.

How to become a Civil Engineer

Typical education

Civil Engineers generally require a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field, which is about 4 years of post-secondary education. Many positions, especially higher-level roles, require a Professional Engineer (PE) license, involving additional work experience and passing a state-specific examination.

High school preparation

Courses:

Mathematics, especially calculus and geometry, for problem-solving skills.
Physics to understand the principles that impact structures and materials.
Computer science for familiarity with CAD software and other engineering tools.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

Joining a robotics club or engineering club.
Participating in science and engineering fairs.
Volunteering or interning with local engineering firms or public works projects.

Preparation after high school

Pursue a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, which is often a prerequisite for entry-level positions.
Gain hands-on experience through internships in civil engineering firms.
Obtain licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) for career advancement and independent project management.

More resources

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) - Offers resources, news, and networking opportunities for civil engineers.
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) - Provides information on the PE licensure exam.
Civil Engineering Source - An online resource for civil engineering news and articles.
Engineering.com - Provides a broad range of information on engineering disciplines, including civil engineering.

Similar careers

Similarity is based on what people in the careers do, what they know, and what they are called. The process of establishing similarity lists is described in this white paper.