Civil Engineers: Schools and Careers

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Civil Engineers - Career Information

Civil Engineers picture Civil Engineers image

Civil Engineers

Civil engineers plan, design and oversee the construction of highways, bridges, water treatment systems and other types of structures. Some civil engineers are involved in community planning and urban renewal. Many civil engineers have supervisory or administrative positions. Some civil engineers are involved with research, design, construction or teaching.

Some common job titles include project engineer, structural engineer, railroad design consultant, design engineer, research hydraulic engineer and city engineer.

Most civil engineers specialize in one area. Some of the primary specializations are construction, structural, sanitary, hydraulics, soil mechanics, transportation and environmental.

Construction engineers oversee the projects they design. They also determine the best methods and materials to build structures.

Structural engineers ensure that structures are built efficiently and safely. They collaborate with architects to design bridges, tunnels and large buildings.

Sanitary engineers design systems that treat waste and purify water. These systems provide a safe and economical supply of water. They collaborate with environmental engineers to control air and water pollution.

Civil engineers that are involved with hydraulics, design irrigation systems, flood control systems and canals. They develop ways of using water that will benefit communities.

Civil engineers that specialize in soil mechanics create ways to utilize soil to improve building foundations.

Transportation engineers plan subways, highways, railroads and airports.

Environmental engineers are involved with controlling water and air pollution.

Responsibilities

Consider the construction costs and expected lifetime of a project
Consider government regulations
Be aware of potential environmental hazards
Oversee construction and maintenance activities at project sites
Give technical advice regarding design, construction, structural repairs or program modifications to managerial and industrial personnel
Inspect project sites to ensure conformance to safety and design specifications and to monitor progress
Prepare or present public reports regarding topics including deeds, environmental impact statements, bid proposals and property and right-of-way descriptions
Estimate cost and quantities of materials, and labor and equipment in order to determine the feasibility of a project
Evaluate maps, drawings, survey reports, aerial photography and other geological or topographical data for planning projects

Job Characteristics

Civil engineers often work with architects, other engineers and construction workers. They should be detailed oriented and have good written and oral communication skills. A strong aptitude for the physical sciences and mathematics is important for the occupation.

Employment Outlook

The employment growth for civil engineers has been projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to be 24 percent from 2008 to 2018 which is much faster than average for all occupations. General population growth and the need to improve the country's infrastructure should increase the demand for civil engineers.

In 2008 the median annual earnings for civil engineers was $74,600. The highest paid 10 percent earned $115,630.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

A bachelor's degree in civil engineering is usually necessary to enter the occupation. Important classes include fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, structural design, stress analysis and circuitry. Some colleges provide cooperative programs that provide classroom learning and work experience. A graduate degree is typically required for those that want a career in research, development or teaching.

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology provides accreditation for college and university engineering programs. In addition, professional certification can be beneficial for finding a job.

Every state requires licensure for engineers that offer their services directly to the public. Licensure typically requires a degree from an ABET accredited engineering program, four years of relevant work experience and passing a state examination.

Resources

Major Employers

The top employment sectors are architectural, engineering and related services; construction industries, local government, state government, nonresidential building construction, and colleges, universities and professional schools.

Schools for Civil Engineers are listed in the column to the left.

The Top Cities tab shows employment statistics for Civil Engineers by major metro area.

The Top Industries tab shows which industries have the most jobs for Civil Engineers, along with salary data by industry.

The Find Schools tab lets you search for schools by field of study, degree level, and location.

Metro Area	Jobs	Salary (2008)	Relative Popularity
ALABAMA
Montgomery	550	$64,530	1.6
Tuscaloosa	220	$64,810	1.3
Mobile	420	$75,150	1.1
Auburn	80	$58,190	1
Florence	70	$62,540	0.8
Birmingham	710	$71,640	0.7
Dothan	50	$72,730	0.5
Decatur	40	$59,560	0.4
ALASKA
Fairbanks	210	$74,060	3.7
Anchorage	860	$78,090	2.7
ARIZONA
Tucson	710	$67,330	0.9
Flagstaff	80	$67,020	0.8
Phoenix	2,960	$77,750	0.8
Yuma	80	$73,840	0.7
Prescott	70	$75,830	0.6
Kingman	50	$63,460	0.5
ARKANSAS
Fayetteville	510	$59,290	1.3
Little Rock	690	$78,670	1
Hot Springs	50	$57,020	0.8
Fort Smith	60	$67,790	0.3
CALIFORNIA
Yuba City	260	$80,040	3.8
Redding	300	$81,840	2.4
Sacramento	4,310	$87,610	2.3
Oakland	4,540	$87,050	2.1
San Luis Obispo	360	$81,940	1.9
San Francisco	3,210	$90,430	1.5
Santa Ana	4,750	$91,140	1.5
Santa Barbara	430	$72,210	1.3
San Diego	3,500	$80,540	1.2
Fresno	830	$84,300	1.2
Oxnard	720	$95,350	1.2
Chico	130	$70,210	1
Vallejo	230	$83,870	1
Riverside	2,460	$94,490	0.9
Santa Cruz	150	$83,560	0.9
Bakersfield	470	$80,230	0.9
Stockton	370	$82,390	0.9
San Jose	1,560	$99,890	0.8
Santa Rosa	280	$91,290	0.8
Napa	80	$68,610	0.7
Hanford	30	$82,250	0.6
Salinas	170	$71,650	0.6
Madera	30	$84,220	0.5
Visalia	110	$73,360	0.4
Modesto	130	$80,280	0.4
COLORADO
Fort Collins	610	$71,900	2.6
Denver	4,690	$78,560	1.8
Grand Junction	180	$74,090	1.7
Pueblo	140	$78,230	1.4
Greeley	200	$68,390	1.4
Colorado Springs	530	$64,660	1
Boulder	250	$78,230	0.8
CONNECTICUT
Hartford	1,540	$80,620	1.3
New Haven	620	$69,820	1.1
Norwich	250	$80,220	1
Bridgeport	460	$78,720	0.5
Waterbury	50	$79,290	0.4
Danbury	50	$76,750	0.4
DELAWARE
Dover	210	$70,160	2.1
Wilmington	690	$90,720	1
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington	5,690	$83,950	1.2
FLORIDA
Tallahassee	490	$75,940	1.5
Gainesville	330	$72,260	1.5
Naples	320	$82,210	1.4
Jacksonville	1,460	$88,270	1.2
Orlando	2,530	$80,390	1.2
Punta Gorda	80	$125,580	1.1
Fort Lauderdale	1,630	$74,380	1.1
Palm Bay	410	$75,180	1
Tampa	2,560	$77,000	1
Panama City	120	$78,000	0.9
Sarasota	490	$72,710	0.9
Port St. Lucie	220	$88,340	0.9
Cape Coral	370	$81,870	0.9
Pensacola	250		0.8
Miami	1,570	$79,990	0.8
Deltona	220	$87,680	0.7
West Palm Beach	790	$84,230	0.7
Lakeland	270	$74,840	0.7
Sebastian	50	$95,570	0.6
Ocala	60	$76,750	0.3
GEORGIA
Augusta	840	$86,910	2
Columbus	250	$63,840	1.2
Warner Robins	100	$81,230	1.1
Atlanta	4,830	$75,530	1
Savannah	230	$73,210	0.8
Gainesville	90	$61,020	0.7
Athens	50	$59,890	0.4
HAWAII
Honolulu	1,500	$75,260	1.7
IDAHO
Coeur d'Alene	100	$63,900	1
Boise	460	$72,200	0.8
Idaho Falls	60	$60,630	0.7
ILLINOIS
Champaign	260	$67,050	1.4
Chicago	5,010	$79,140	0.6
Kankakee	40	$75,920	0.6
Springfield	120	$77,430	0.6
Peoria	200	$74,080	0.6
Decatur	40	$71,780	0.5
Bloomington	40	$83,510	0.3
Rockford	80	$80,760	0.3
INDIANA
Indianapolis	1,680	$73,440	0.9
Bloomington	90	$59,940	0.7
Evansville	210	$61,740	0.6
Columbus	40	$76,110	0.5
Michigan City	40	$55,790	0.5
South Bend	110	$58,240	0.4
Gary	210	$71,280	0.4
Lafayette	50	$57,430	0.3
Fort Wayne	140	$59,950	0.3
Terre Haute	40	$61,960	0.3
Elkhart	50	$51,140	0.2
IOWA
Ames	260	$76,210	3.9
Iowa City	110	$72,540	0.8
Davenport	270	$74,440	0.7
Des Moines	480	$79,670	0.7
Cedar Rapids	180	$76,590	0.7
Waterloo	40	$59,130	0.2
KANSAS
Topeka	290	$70,670	1.3
Lawrence	90	$70,420	1.1
Wichita	300	$59,110	0.5
KENTUCKY
Lexington	390	$70,290	0.8
Elizabethtown	50	$70,630	0.6
Louisville	710	$70,600	0.6
Bowling Green	30	$54,090	0.3
LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge	1,370	$99,060	1.8
New Orleans	970	$82,140	0.9
Lafayette	240	$89,080	0.8
Alexandria	70	$73,200	0.6
Houma	100	$77,530	0.5
Lake Charles	90	$77,040	0.5
Monroe	70	$80,090	0.5
Shreveport	120	$71,990	0.3
MAINE
Portland	330	$67,630	0.8
Lewiston	60	$70,810	0.7
Bangor	60	$65,950	0.5
MARYLAND
Bethesda	1,900	$85,880	1.6
Baltimore	3,060	$77,780	1.1
Salisbury	50	$69,730	0.5
MASSACHUSETTS
Taunton	200	$65,050	2.4
Pittsfield	100	$66,910	1.7
Boston	5,330	$88,760	1.5
Lowell	270	$84,390	1.1
Framingham	350	$76,610	1.1
Barnstable	170	$79,590	0.9
Brockton	130	$69,160	0.8
Worcester	380	$73,700	0.8
New Bedford	90	$73,790	0.7
Haverhill	100	$75,730	0.7
Springfield	360	$71,110	0.6
Lawrence	40	$79,660	0.4
MICHIGAN
Lansing	470	$69,590	1.2
Warren	2,400	$72,000	1
Detroit	1,190	$70,810	0.8
Jackson	70	$77,330	0.7
Battle Creek	60	$64,200	0.7
Grand Rapids	450	$70,070	0.6
Monroe	40	$64,270	0.6
Kalamazoo	120	$70,040	0.4
Flint	120	$62,250	0.4
Ann Arbor	120	$76,040	0.4
Saginaw	50	$64,760	0.3
MINNESOTA
Rochester	150	$68,200	0.8
Duluth	210	$67,470	0.8
Minneapolis	2,610	$76,480	0.7
MISSISSIPPI
Gulfport	280	$66,490	1.3
Pascagoula	100	$72,680	1.2
Jackson	490	$67,930	0.9
MISSOURI
Jefferson City	250	$67,720	1.9
Kansas City	2,810	$82,300	1.3
Columbia	200	$66,130	1.3
St. Louis	2,730	$73,620	1
St. Joseph	60	$59,920	0.7
Springfield	210	$71,870	0.5
Joplin	80	$65,610	0.5
MONTANA
Missoula	110	$70,670	1.2
Great Falls	70	$70,500	1.2
Billings	170	$67,680	1.1
NEBRASKA
Lincoln	390	$66,490	1.2
Omaha	1,010	$73,160	1
NEVADA
Carson City	250	$65,020	5.4
Las Vegas	2,210	$86,630	1.1
Reno	440	$83,480	1
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Portsmouth	100	$71,780	1
Manchester	190	$85,210	0.9
Rochester	50	$80,320	0.5
Nashua	70	$73,490	0.3
NEW JERSEY
Trenton	1,020	$74,510	2.3
Edison	2,070	$89,480	1
Newark	1,650	$82,730	0.8
Atlantic City	180	$92,550	0.6
Camden	610	$79,650	0.6
Ocean City	40	$81,740	0.5
NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque	1,200	$82,170	1.5
Santa Fe	150	$80,050	1.3
Las Cruces	120	$62,830	1.1
Farmington	80	$101,570	0.8
NEW YORK
Albany	1,380	$76,910	1.5
Binghamton	260	$63,230	1.3
Poughkeepsie	510	$70,060	1
Syracuse	630	$69,120	1
Ithaca	70	$68,000	0.9
Rochester	710	$73,030	0.7
Utica	170	$66,040	0.7
Buffalo	750	$76,390	0.7
Nassau	1,620	$87,110	0.6
New York	6,450	$82,640	0.6
Kingston	30	$69,750	0.3
NORTH CAROLINA
Raleigh	2,260	$71,550	2.1
Durham	460	$71,180	0.8
Charlotte	1,440	$76,770	0.8
Wilmington	220	$67,090	0.8
Greenville	90	$81,450	0.7
Fayetteville	160	$81,860	0.7
Asheville	200	$61,930	0.6
Greensboro	420	$61,170	0.5
Rocky Mount	40	$75,450	0.4
Burlington	40	$81,120	0.4
Winston-Salem	130	$66,180	0.3
Hickory	60	$65,720	0.2
NORTH DAKOTA
Bismarck	270	$64,240	2.6
Grand Forks	60	$72,240	0.7
Fargo	140	$63,600	0.6
OHIO
Columbus	1,660	$70,670	0.8
Dayton	590	$73,040	0.7
Toledo	440	$68,330	0.7
Akron	450	$68,350	0.6
Lima	60	$73,010	0.6
Cincinnati	1,300	$74,200	0.6
Cleveland	1,300	$67,020	0.6
Mansfield	30	$88,180	0.3
Canton	100	$67,520	0.3
Youngstown	90	$66,840	0.2
OKLAHOMA
Tulsa	620	$73,740	0.7
Lawton	40	$65,010	0.6
Oklahoma City	610	$73,200	0.5
OREGON
Corvallis	200	$65,310	3.7
Portland	3,290	$74,310	1.5
Salem	380	$73,490	1.3
Bend	140	$64,880	1.1
Eugene	270	$73,980	0.9
Medford	90	$63,700	0.6
PENNSYLVANIA
Williamsport	160	$66,750	1.7
State College	170	$76,010	1.6
Pittsburgh	3,410	$69,440	1.4
Altoona	150	$63,940	1.4
Johnstown	140	$75,360	1.3
Harrisburg	810	$68,610	1.2
York	360	$75,160	1
Philadelphia	3,830	$79,550	1
Lancaster	460	$71,980	1
Allentown	580	$71,810	0.8
Reading	210	$92,300	0.6
Scranton	310	$63,090	0.6
Erie	40	$79,060	0.2
RHODE ISLAND
Providence	700	$79,590	0.6
SOUTH CAROLINA
Columbia	850	$65,590	1.2
Greenville	640	$65,950	1
Charleston	600	$71,690	1
Myrtle Beach	110	$67,090	0.5
Spartanburg	100	$61,570	0.4
Anderson	40	$52,670	0.4
Florence	50	$67,600	0.3
SOUTH DAKOTA
Rapid City	160	$68,530	1.4
Sioux Falls	210	$66,780	0.8
TENNESSEE
Knoxville	510	$70,420	0.7
Johnson City	70	$61,930	0.5
Kingsport	90	$65,390	0.4
Chattanooga	180	$73,780	0.4
Memphis	410	$90,890	0.3
Clarksville	40	$65,710	0.3
TEXAS
College Station	680	$60,940	4.7
Houston	13,920	$96,960	2.6
Austin	2,590	$75,530	1.6
San Antonio	2,260	$65,520	1.3
Midland	120	$72,650	1
Victoria	80	$86,610	1
Corpus Christi	280	$87,080	0.8
Dallas	3,400	$78,020	0.8
Tyler	120	$73,050	0.7
Killeen	160	$77,600	0.7
Fort Worth	1,170	$77,040	0.6
Abilene	70	$71,300	0.6
El Paso	310	$67,290	0.6
Amarillo	110	$75,260	0.6
Wichita Falls	60	$71,270	0.6
Lubbock	130	$43,270	0.5
Laredo	70	$65,660	0.4
Waco	80	$73,700	0.4
San Angelo	30	$56,630	0.4
Longview	60	$87,050	0.3
Brownsville	60	$70,150	0.2
McAllen	70	$65,850	0.2
UTAH
St. George	120	$66,970	1.4
Provo	360	$71,050	1.1
Salt Lake City	1,300	$71,030	1
VERMONT
Burlington	200	$68,720	0.9
VIRGINIA
Lynchburg	370	$69,520	1.9
Virginia Beach	2,150	$77,070	1.4
Winchester	120	$84,000	1.3
Richmond	1,550	$74,920	1.2
Blacksburg	120	$59,390	1.1
Charlottesville	150	$66,490	0.8
Roanoke	170	$64,670	0.5
Harrisonburg	50	$59,310	0.5
WASHINGTON
Kennewick	1,730	$85,880	10.1
Olympia	810	$73,150	4.5
Bremerton	340	$78,070	2.2
Seattle	6,220	$82,110	2.1
Wenatchee	140	$73,080	2
Bellingham	240	$68,560	1.6
Longview	80	$70,520	1.4
Tacoma	760	$77,100	1.4
Mount Vernon	100	$67,870	1.2
Yakima	160	$65,070	1.1
Spokane	440	$64,850	1
WEST VIRGINIA
Morgantown	230	$57,940	2.8
Charleston	420	$63,040	1.5
Parkersburg	120	$67,290	0.9
Huntington	160	$76,330	0.7
Wheeling	40	$60,410	0.3
WISCONSIN
Wausau	180	$56,950	1.4
Madison	960	$71,010	1.4
Milwaukee	1,840	$74,070	1
Green Bay	310	$62,690	0.9
Eau Claire	100	$70,010	0.7
La Crosse	70	$62,920	0.5
Fond du Lac	40	$61,670	0.5
Janesville	50	$60,470	0.4
WYOMING
Cheyenne	140	$63,450	1.8
Casper	70	$70,650	1

Industry	Jobs	Percent	Salary (2008)
Professional And Technical Services	140,330	55%	$74,680
Government	70,850	28%	$75,010
Construction	22,040	8%	$71,880
Office Services And Staffing	3,240	1%	$69,910
Education	2,920	1%	$59,860

Employment For:
All Jobs > Civil Engineers

Selected Schools for Civil Engineers (including any online schools)

These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).

Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.

School	Locations	Degrees	Quick Info
Norwich University	Online	Master	Get Info
Sullivan University	KY	Associate	Get Info

CityTownInfo Career and College Resources

Link to This Resource Page (copy & paste)

Civil Engineering Schools by State

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Civil Engineers.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.

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Civil Engineers: Schools and Careers

Civil Engineers - Career Information

Metro Areas Rated for Popularity (as of 2008) for:Civil Engineers

ALABAMA

ALASKA

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

CONNECTICUT

DELAWARE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

HAWAII

IDAHO

ILLINOIS

INDIANA

IOWA

KANSAS

KENTUCKY

LOUISIANA

MAINE

MARYLAND

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

MINNESOTA

MISSISSIPPI

MISSOURI

MONTANA

NEBRASKA

NEVADA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

NEW MEXICO

NEW YORK

NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH DAKOTA

OHIO

OKLAHOMA

OREGON

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

SOUTH CAROLINA

SOUTH DAKOTA

TENNESSEE

TEXAS

UTAH

VERMONT

VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON

WEST VIRGINIA

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

Career Stories (Job Profiles) for Civil Engineers

Most Popular Industries (as of 2008) for:Civil Engineers

Selected Schools for Civil Engineers (including any online schools)

CityTownInfo Career and College Resources

Link to This Resource Page (copy & paste)

Civil Engineering Schools by State

Related Careers

Metro Areas Rated for Popularity (as of 2008) for:
Civil Engineers

Most Popular Industries (as of 2008) for:
Civil Engineers