Civil Engineers
Architecture and Engineering
Plans and designs structures and public works: roads, bridges, airports, dams, pipelines, and water or sewage systems, then oversees how they are built and maintained. Time is split between calculations of loads, grades, water flow, and material stress, drawings made with design software, and site visits to inspect progress and safety. Survey data, maps, and blueprints get analyzed; some work involves laying out grades and reference points in the field. The role also means directing crews or contractors and keeping projects inside environmental and safety rules. Works well for those who want applied math, on-site inspection, and following a design from drawings to finished construction.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$100'840
Median Wage Market Position
$100'840
What you might do
- Plan roads, bridges, and water systems
- Calculate loads, grades, and material stresses
- Inspect sites for safety and design compliance
- Direct construction and upkeep at project sites
- Analyze maps, surveys, and geologic reports
- Advise managers on repairs and design changes
Skills that matter
- Calculating loads, grades, and material stress
- Reading survey maps and geologic data
- Inspecting sites for design and sanitation
- Advising managers on structural repairs
- Setting grades and reference points for crews
- Directing construction under environmental and safety rules
AI & the future of this role
Modeling and drafting tools may speed analysis and plan preparation, yet field oversight, regulatory judgment, and liability for public safety still anchor the work. Infrastructure upkeep and rebuild demand could keep prospects fairly steady amid that shift.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details