Civil Engineers

• Nature of the Work

  Civil engineers work in the oldest branch of engineering. They design and supervise the construction of roads, airports, tunnels, bridges, water supply and sewage systems, and buildings. Major specialties within civil engineering are structural, water resources, environmental, construction, transportation, and geotechnical engineering.

  Many civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions, ranging from supervisor of a construction site to city engineer. Others may work in design, construction, research, and teaching.

• Working Conditions for Engineers

• Employment

  Civil engineers held about 184,000 jobs in 1994. Over 40 percent of the jobs were in Federal, State, and local government agencies. Another 40 percent were in firms that provide engineering consulting services, primarily developing designs for new construction projects. The construction industry, public utilities, transportation, and manufacturing industries accounted for most of the rest.

  Civil engineers usually are found working near major industrial and commercial centers, often at construction sites. Some projects are situated in remote areas or in foreign countries. In some jobs, civil engineers move from place to place to work on different projects.

• Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement for Engineers

• Job Outlook

  Those wishing to become civil engineers should find favorable opportunities through 2005. Spurred by general population growth and an expanding economy, more civil engineers will be needed to design and construct higher capacity transportation, water supply, and pollution control systems; large buildings and building complexes; and repair or replace existing roads, bridges, and other public structures. Employment of civil engineers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Most job openings, however, will result from the need to replace civil engineers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.

  Because construction and related industries-including those providing design services-employ many civil engineers, employment opportunities will vary by geographic area and may decrease during economic slowdowns, when construction often is curtailed.

  (See introductory section of this chapter for information on training requirements, earnings, and sources of additional information.)

• Earnings of Engineers

• Related Occupations for Engineers

  Engineers apply the principles of physical science and mathematics in their work. Other workers who use scientific and mathematical principles include physical scientists, life scientists, computer scientists, mathematicians, engineering and science technicians, and architects.

• Sources of Additional Information about Engineers

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