Career Theme: Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals and real-world materials like wood, tools and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Civil Engineer
Necessary Education: Although most employers accept a Bachelor’s degree, some require doctoral or Master’s degrees. A civil engineer may start to work once he or she passes the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination.
Special Training Required: A bachelor’s degree is standard for many entry-level jobs, while more advanced careers may require more training via traditional or online grad schools. Engineers that offer their services directly to the public must be licensed. Many civil engineers also obtain an official professional engineer (PE) certification.
Prerequisite experience needed: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. Certain states may require that civil engineers work four years before he or she can obtain a license. A license is mandatory if the engineer wants to work for him or herself.
Job Responsibilities: Civil engineers manage and direct staff members and the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site. They provide technical advice regarding design, construction, or program modifications and structural repairs to industrial and managerial personnel. They also inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards. Their job may also include planning transportation or hydraulic systems, analyzing survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, and other data to plan projects, and preparing or presenting public reports on topics such as bid proposals, deeds, environmental impact statements, or property and right-of-way descriptions.
Industry Trend: Overall growth in 2018 for the US engineering and construction industry is projected to be around 5 percent and is likely to accelerate further going into 2019. Mergers and acquisitions are positioned for a strong 2019. Driving this activity are the proliferation of mega projects infused with advanced technologies, a focus on smart cities, and the promises of a data-driven world.
Typical Salary Range: $54,150 – $138,110 (source from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2017)