A Day in the Life of a Civil Engineer

Civil engineers design and build bridges, roads, railways, and tunnels. They design and build tall structures and large buildings such as parking garages, train stations, and even the Olympic stadium. (www.ice.org.uk/About-Civil-engineering)

Some major sub-disciplines include; structural, environmental, water resources, geotechnical, construction and transportation. (Civil.colorado.edu)

Water resources engineering deals with the collection and management of water (as a natural resource). It combines hydrology, environmental science, meteorology, geology, conservation, and resource management. This area of civil engineering predicts and manage both the quality and quantity of above and underground resources. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/civil_engineering)

(En.wikipedia.org/wiki/civil_enginering) (www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk)

Percentile 10% 25% 50% (mean)

75% 90%

Hourly Wage $24.65 $30.30 $38.14 $48.24 $58.66

Annual Wage $51,280 $63,030 $79,340 $100,330 $122,020

Civil Engineering Payroll

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 258,100 civil

engineers employed in the U.S. Indiana only employs 2,950 of

them, while California has almost 35,000 and Texas has 23,000.

Average pay statewide is 74,000, which is about the national

average seen in the table below.

(http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172051.htm)Percentile wage estimates for Civil engineering

(www.aame.edu)(tsiservicesllc.com) (sutharmanp.blogspot.com)

(www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172051.htm)

Employment projections data for civil engineers, 2010-20

Occupational Title SOC Code

Employme

nt 2010

Projected

Employme

nt2020

Change, 2010-20

Employment by

IndustryPercent Numeric

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Civil Engineers 17-2051 262,800 313,900 19 51,100 [XLS]

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Civil Engineers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm (visited June 12, 2013).

Employment projections data for civil engineering technicians, 2010-20

Occupational

Title SOC Code

Employment

2010

Projected

Employment

2020

Change, 2010-20

Employment by

IndustryPercent Numeric

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Civil Engineering Technicians

17-3022 79,000 88,500 12 9,400 [XLS]

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Civil Engineering Technicians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineering-technicians.htm (visited June 12, 2013).

Although not always required, an associate’s degree in civil engineering technology is preferred for civil engineering technicians. It is best to seek programs that ABET (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) has certified.

Certification The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) is one of the primary organizations overseeing certification for civil engineering technicians.

Certification as a technician requires an exam and documentation, including a work history, recommendations, and, for most programs, supervisor verification of specific experience.

NICET's Certification Programs Technician certification requires testing (written, multiple choice) and documentation including a work history, recommendations, and, for most programs, supervisor verification of specific experience. You can submit the documentation with your testing application (recommended to expedite the final result) or send it later.

Technologist certification requires a 4-year engineering technology degree (no testing required), and at the advanced level, documentation including a work history and endorsements.

NICET requires technicians and technologists to update their skills and knowledge through a recertification process that encourages continuing professional development.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Civil Engineering Technicians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineering-technicians.htm (visited June 12, 2013).

EducationCivil engineers must first complete a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or one of its specialties. The degree should be from a program approved by ABET (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). A program accredited by ABET is needed in order to gain licensure, which is required to work as a professional engineer (PE).

Programs in civil engineering typically take 4 years to complete and include coursework in mathematics, statistics, engineering mechanics and systems, and fluid dynamics, among other courses, depending on the specialty. Courses include a mix of traditional classroom learning and laboratory and field work.

About one of every five civil engineers has a master’s degree. Further education after the bachelor’s degree is helpful in getting a job as a manager. A civil engineer needs both a license and experience to become a manager.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Civil Engineers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm (visited June 12, 2013).

Civil engineers need a bachelor’s degree. They typically need a graduate degree for promotion to managerial positions. Civil engineers who sell their own services publicly must be licensed in all states and the District of Columbia.

An engineering degree program averages $6,500 for in-state tuition at a public school and $25,000 at a private school.

Out of state residents can expect to pay 25% to 50% more per year at a public school. 

University Public or Private Annual tuition

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Private $38,940

Stanford University Private $41,420

University of California - Berkeley Public $16,299

Georgia Institute of Technology Public $22,776

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Public $13,636

(ASCET 2 x 8,000 = $16,000) (2 x $26,500 = $53,000) (BSCET 4 x $8,000 = $32,000) (4 x $26,500 = $106,000) (MSCET $46,000 to $192,000)

Source: http://education-portal.com/articles/Average_Tuition_Costs_for_Engineering_Graduate_School.htmlhttp://www.business.com/guides/pricing-and-costs-of-civil-engineer-education-and-training-29949/ Accessed 6/12/2013

Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN, US

Purdue University at West Lafayette West Lafayette, IN, US

Purdue University Calumet Hammond, IN, US

Trine University (Formerly Tri-State University) Angola, IN, US

University of Evansville Evansville, IN, US

University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN, US

Valparaiso University Valparaiso, IN, US

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Formerly Rose Polytechnic Institute)

Terre Haute, IN, USSource: http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx Last Updated: 10/1/2012 Accessed 6/12/13

Civil Engineering: Early Inventors and Future Designs • Civil engineering is considered to be the first and oldest of the main

disciplines of engineering.

• The engineers were in fact military engineers with expertise in military and civil works.

• During the era of battles or operations, the engineers were engaged to assist the soldiers fighting in the battlefield by making catapults, towers, and other instruments used for fighting the enemy.

• During peace time, they were concerned mainly with the civil activities such as building fortifications for defense, making bridges, canals, etc.

Civil Engineering: Societies and Schools

• In 1828, the worlds first engineering society came into being, The Institution of Civil Engineers in England.

• The first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways, in France in 1747.

Civil Engineering: Machu Pichu

Machu Pichu is considered a civil engineering marvel, as it was built high in the Andes Mountains. The people of Machu Pichu built this mountain top city complete with running water, drainage systems productions and stone structures so advanced that they endured for over 500 years.

Civil Engineering: Other Early Civil Engineering

Pyramid of Djoser

Great Wall of China

Aqueducts and the Pantheon

Numerous technologies have assisted in the advancement of civil engineering in the modern world.

• High-tech machinery• Selection of materials • Test equipment, and other

sciences

However, the most prominent contributor in this field is considered to be computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacture (CAM).

Civil engineers use this technology to achieve an efficient system of construction, including manufacture, fabrication, and erection.

• Three-dimensional design software is an essential tool for the civil engineer that facilitates him in the efficient designing of bridges, tall buildings, and other huge complicated structures.

Civil Engineering: Future Developments