Civil engineers provide engineering services in designing, planning, and overseeing maintenance and construction of structures, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams, channels, harbors, pipelines, irrigation jobs, water/sewer plants, power plants, and waste disposal projects. Jobs in civil engineering are expected to continue to grow through the year 2018 with an estimated 278,000 openings and are a part of one of the top industries–professional, scientific, and technical services. Depending upon the level of degree obtained those with a degree in move on to jobs such as:
– Architectural and Civil Drafters: Prepare architectural and structural drawings of buildings and various structures, as well as topographical maps used for projects such as bridges and highways. Their reported median annual salary is $45,600.
– Emergency Management Specialists: Help to coordinate crisis management or disaster response activities, prepare procedures for natural emergencies, technological disasters, and even hostage situations. They also can provide training in the above mentioned areas.
– Water/Wastewater Engineers: Design projects that help provide fresh water, dispose of wastewater, and/or prevent flood damage. They develop documentation for data analysis and management, field work, and regulatory compliance. They may also design pipelines or create hydraulic models.
– Environmental Scientists: Also known as Environmental Specialists, Environmental Health and Safety Specialists, and Environmental Analysts. Carry out investigations and research identifying or eliminating pollutants and/or their sources that affect the environment of health of people. With a median annual salary around $61,000, these men and women will also perform extensive research involving data from measurements, food/air/water and soil observations.
– Bioinformatics Scientists: Conduct research using methods and theories of bioinformatics in medical technology, pharmaceuticals, computational biology, computer information science, and biology informatics. Database design including algorithms for analyzing and processing genomic information.
– Engineering Postsecondary Teachers: Also known as professors, instructors, Research Professor, and Industrial Engineer Professor teaching the application of engineering laws and principles for the development of materials, machines, process, and instruments. May also teach in the engineering areas of civil, chemical, industrial, electrical, mineral, mechanical, and petroleum. Median annual salary is $85,830.
– Construction/Building Inspectors: Inspection of structures and buildings utilizing engineering skills for both general and specific purposes from electrical systems and plumbing to structural soundness and regulation compliance. Other job titles include Engineering Technician, Construction Project Supervisor, Building Code Administrator, and Building Mechanical Engineer.
– Aerospace Engineers: Designing, testing, and construction of missiles, aircraft, and spacecrafts. These Flight Test Engineers, Aerospace Stress Engineers, Systems Engineers, and Aeronautical Engineers bring home a median annual salary of close to $95,000.
– Ship Engineers: Crew supervision, maintenance of engines, deck machinery, electrical equipment, and the monitoring of pollution preventatives and lifesaving equipment aboard ship.