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I chose this website because I want to create new things that help environmental problems

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I chose this website because I want to create new things that help environmental problems

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Summary

Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSxcetMCZZ0.

Quick Facts: Environmental Engineers
2021 Median Pay

$96,820 per year
$46.55 per hour

Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems.

Environmental engineers work in a variety of settings because of the nature of the tasks they do. When they are working with other engineers and urban and regional planners, environmental engineers are likely to be in offices. When they are carrying out solutions through construction projects, they are likely to be at construction sites.

Environmental engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering or a related field, such as civil, chemical, or general engineering. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have practical experience. Therefore, internships or cooperative engineering programs may be valuable as well.

The median annual wage for environmental engineers was $96,820 in May 2021.

Employment of environmental engineers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 3,400 openings for environmental engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for environmental engineers.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of environmental engineers with similar occupations.

Learn more about environmental engineers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They work to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control. They also address global issues, such as unsafe drinking water, climate change, and environmental sustainability.

Duties

Environmental engineers typically do the following:

Prepare, review, and update environmental investigation reports

Design projects that lead to environmental protection, such as water reclamation facilities or air pollution control systems

Obtain, update, and maintain plans, permits, and standard operating procedures

Provide technical support for environmental remediation projects and for legal actions

Analyze scientific data and do quality-control checks

Monitor the progress of environmental improvement programs

Inspect industrial and municipal facilities and programs in order to ensure compliance with environmental regulations

Advise corporations and government agencies about procedures for cleaning up contaminated sites

Environmental engineers conduct hazardous-waste management studies in which they evaluate the significance of a hazard and advise on treating and containing it. They also design systems for municipal and industrial water supplies and industrial wastewater treatment, and research the environmental impact of proposed construction projects. Environmental engineers in government develop regulations to prevent mishaps.

Some environmental engineers study ways to minimize the effects of acid rain, climate change, automobile emissions, and ozone depletion. They also collaborate with environmental scientists, urban and regional planners, hazardous-waste technicians, and other engineers, as well as with specialists such as experts in law and business, to address environmental problems and environmental sustainability. For more information, see the job profiles on environmental scientists and specialists, hazardous materials removal workers, lawyers, and urban and regional planners.

Environmental engineers held about 44,000 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of environmental engineers were as follows:

Engineering services

30%

Management, scientific, and technical consulting services

18

State government, excluding education and hospitals

15

Federal government, excluding postal service

7

Local government, excluding education and hospitals

6

Environmental engineers work in a variety of settings because of the nature of the tasks they do:

Work Schedules

Most environmental engineers work full time. Those who manage projects often work more than 40 hours per week to monitor the project's progress, ensure that deadlines are met, and recommend corrective action when needed.

How to Become an Environmental Engineer About this section

Environmental engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering or a related field, such as civil, chemical, or general engineering. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have practical experience. Therefore, internships or cooperative engineering programs may be valuable as well.

Education

Entry-level environmental engineering jobs typically require a bachelor's degree in engineering. Programs include academic, laboratory, and field work. Some college and university programs offer cooperative education in which students gain practical experience while completing their studies. Students also may choose to participate in internships.

At some colleges and universities, a student can enroll in a 5-year program that leads to both a bachelor's and a master's degree. A graduate degree allows an engineer to work as an instructor at some colleges and universities or to do research and development, and some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a master's degree.

Students interested in becoming an environmental engineer should take high school courses in chemistry, biology, physics, and math, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus.

Engineering programs are accredited by a professional association, such as ABET. A degree from an accredited program is usually necessary for a person to become a licensed professional engineer.

Important Qualities

Imagination. Environmental engineers sometimes have to design systems that will be part of larger ones. They must foresee how the proposed designs will interact with components of the larger system, including the workers, machinery, and equipment, as well as with the environment.

Interpersonal skills. Environmental engineers must work with others toward a common goal. They usually work with engineers and scientists who design other systems and with the technicians and mechanics who put the designs into practice.

Problem-solving skills. When designing facilities and processes, environmental engineers strive to solve several issues at once, from workers' safety to environmental protection. They must identify and anticipate problems in order to prevent losses for their employers, safeguard workers' health, and mitigate environmental damage.

Reading skills. Environmental engineers often work with businesspeople, lawyers, and other professionals outside their field. They frequently are required to read and understand documents that deal with topics outside their scope of training.

Writing skills. Environmental engineers must write clearly so that others without their specific training can understand their documents, including plans, proposals, specifications, and findings, among others.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Licensure is not required for entry-level positions as an environmental engineer. A Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of leadership and independence, can be acquired later in one's career. Licensed engineers are called professional engineers (PEs). A PE can oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure generally requires

A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program

A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam

Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years

A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam

The initial FE exam can be taken after one earns a bachelor's degree. Engineers who pass this exam are commonly called engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs). After meeting work experience requirements, EITs and EIs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE).

Each state issues its own licenses. Most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state's requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require engineers to take continuing education to keep their licenses.

After licensing, environmental engineers can earn board certification from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. This certification shows that an environmental engineer has expertise in one or more areas of specialization.

Advancement

As beginning engineers gain knowledge and experience, they move on to more difficult projects and they have greater independence to develop designs, solve problems, and make decisions. Eventually, environmental engineers may advance to become technical specialists or to supervise a team of engineers and technicians.

Some may even become engineering managers or move into executive positions, such as program managers. However, before assuming a managerial position, an engineer most often works under the supervision of a more experienced engineer. For more information, see the profile on architectural and engineering managers.

Median annual wages, May 2021

The median annual wage for environmental engineers was $96,820 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $59,820, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $153,200.

In May 2021, the median annual wages for environmental engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Federal government, excluding postal service

$110,240

Engineering services

95,730

Management, scientific, and technical consulting services

94,970

Local government, excluding education and hospitals

82,520

State government, excluding education and hospitals

80,450

Most environmental engineers work full time. Those who manage projects often work more than 40 hours per week to monitor the project's progress, ensure that deadlines are met, and recommend corrective action when needed.

Employment of environmental engineers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 3,400 openings for environmental engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Heightened public awareness of the hazards facing the environment is expected to support demand for environmental engineers. For example, these workers are expected to be needed to help design solutions to improve water and air quality amid growing concerns about pollution and the lack of access to clean drinking water across the country.

Occupational Title

SOC Code

Employment, 2021

Projected Employment, 2031

Change, 2021-31

Employment by Industry

Percent

Numeric

Environmental engineers

17-2081

44,000

45,800

4

1,800
Get data

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state's websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

For more information about environmental engineers, visit
American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists
For more information about education for engineers, visit
American Society for Engineering Education
For more information about accredited engineering programs, visit
ABET
For more information about becoming licensed as a professional engineer, visit
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying National Society of Professional Engineers
For more information about engineering summer camps, visit
Engineering Education Service Center
CareerOneStop

For a career video on environmental engineers, visit
Environmental Engineers
O*NET
Environmental Engineers

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSxcetMCZZ0. Quick Facts: Environmental Engineers 2021 Median Pay $96,820 per year $46.55 per hour Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. Environmental engineers work in a variety of settings because of the nature of the tasks they do.

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I chose this website because I want to create cures for the new viruses that come every now and then. 

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I chose this website because I want to create cures for the new viruses that come every now and then. 

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Summary

Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBKj9Uh1PgI.

Quick Facts: Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
2022 Median Pay

$99,550 per year
$47.86 per hour

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software.

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers work in manufacturing, in research facilities, and for a variety of other employers. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in bioengineering or biomedical engineering or in a related engineering field. Some positions require a graduate degree.

The median annual wage for bioengineers and biomedical engineers was $99,550 in May 2022.

Employment of bioengineers and biomedical engineers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 1,200 openings for bioengineers and biomedical engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for bioengineers and biomedical engineers.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of bioengineers and biomedical engineers with similar occupations.

Learn more about bioengineers and biomedical engineers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Do About this section

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software.

Duties

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically do the following:

Design equipment and devices, such as artificial internal organs, replacements for body parts, and machines for diagnosing medical problems

Install, maintain, or provide technical support for biomedical equipment

Collaborate with manufacturing staff on the safety and effectiveness of biomedical equipment

Train clinicians and others on the proper use of biomedical equipment

Work with scientists to research how engineering principles apply to biological systems

Develop statistical models or simulations using statistical or modeling software

Prepare procedures and write technical reports and research papers

Present research findings to a variety of audiences, including scientists, clinicians, managers, other engineers, and the public

Design or conduct followup experiments as needed

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers frequently work in research and development or quality assurance.

The work of bioengineers spans many fields. For example, although their expertise is in engineering and biology, they often design computer software to run complicated instruments, such as three-dimensional x-ray machines. Others use their knowledge of chemistry and biology to develop new drug therapies. Still others draw on math and statistics to understand signals transmitted by the brain or heart. Some are involved in sales.

Biomedical engineers focus on advances in technology and medicine to develop new devices and equipment for improving human health. For example, they might design software to run medical equipment or computer simulations to test new drug therapies. In addition, they design and build artificial body parts, such as hip and knee joints, or develop materials to make replacement parts. They also design rehabilitative exercise equipment.

The following are examples of types of bioengineers and biomedical engineers:

Biochemical engineers focus on cell structures and microscopic systems to create products for bioremediation, biological waste treatment, and other uses.

Bioinstrumentation engineers use electronics, computer science, and measurement principles to develop tools for diagnosing and treating medical problems.

Biomaterials engineers study naturally occurring or laboratory-designed substances for use in medical devices or implants.

Biomechanics engineers study thermodynamics and other systems to solve biological or medical problems.

Clinical engineers apply medical technology to improve healthcare.

Genetic engineers alter the genetic makeup of organism using recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) technology, such as in developing vitamin-fortified food crops to prevent disease in humans.

Rehabilitation engineers develop devices that aid people who are recovering from or adapting to physical or cognitive impairments.

Systems physiologists use engineering tools to understand how biological systems function and respond to changes in their environment.

Other bioengineering occupations are described in separate profiles; see, for example, chemical engineers and agricultural engineers. Some people with training in biomedical engineering become postsecondary teachers.

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers held about 19,700 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of bioengineers and biomedical engineers were as follows:

Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences

23%

Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing

13

Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers

11

Engineering services

9

Healthcare and social assistance

8

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers work on teams with scientists, healthcare workers, or other engineers. Where and how they work depends on the project. For example, a biomedical engineer who has developed a new device might spend hours in a hospital to ensure that the device works as planned. If the device needs adjusting, the engineer might need to suggest alterations in the manufacturing process.

Work Schedules

Most bioengineers and biomedical engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

How to Become a Bioengineer or Biomedical Engineer About this section

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, or a related engineering field. Some positions require a graduate degree.

Education

In high school, students interested in becoming bioengineers or biomedical engineers should take classes in sciences such as chemistry, physics, and biology. They should also study math, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. If available, classes in drafting, mechanical drawing, and computer programming are also useful.

At the bachelor's degree level, prospective bioengineers should study bioengineering, biomedical, or other engineering fields. Students who pursue other engineering degrees, such as mechanical or electrical, may benefit from taking biological science courses.

Bachelor's degree programs in bioengineering and biomedical engineering focus on engineering and biological sciences. These programs typically include laboratory- and classroom-based courses in biological sciences and subjects such as fluid and solid mechanics, circuit design, and biomaterials.

These programs also include substantial training in engineering design. As part of their study, students may have an opportunity to participate in co-ops or internships with hospitals and medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies. Bioengineering and biomedical engineering programs are accredited by ABET.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers must assess the needs of patients and customers prior to designing products.

Communication skills. Because bioengineers and biomedical engineers sometimes work with patients and customers and frequently work on teams, they must be able to express themselves clearly in discussions. They also write reports and research papers.

Creativity. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers must be creative to come up with innovations in healthcare equipment and devices.

Math skills. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers use calculus and other advanced math and statistics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Problem-solving skills. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically deal with intricate biological systems. They must be able to work independently and with others to incorporate ideas into the complex problem-solving process.

Advancement

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers may increase their responsibilities as they gain experience or advanced degrees. To lead a research team, a bioengineer or biomedical engineer typically needs a graduate degree. Those who are interested in basic research may become medical scientists.

Some bioengineers attend medical or dental school to specialize in techniques such as using electric impulses in new ways to get muscles moving again. Others earn law degrees and work as patent attorneys. Still others pursue a master's degree in business administration (MBA) and move into managerial positions. For more information, see the profiles on lawyers and architectural and engineering managers.

Median annual wages, May 2022

The median annual wage for bioengineers and biomedical engineers was $99,550 in May 2022. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $63,420, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $159,130.

In May 2022, the median annual wages for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Engineering services

$146,540

Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers

100,440

Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences

99,240

Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing

99,010

Healthcare and social assistance

84,970

Most bioengineers and biomedical engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

Employment of bioengineers and biomedical engineers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 1,200 openings for bioengineers and biomedical engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers are expected to see employment growth as demand for biomedical devices and procedures, such as hip and knee replacements, continues to increase. In addition, with continued public awareness of medical advances, increasing numbers of people will seek biomedical solutions to their health problems.

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers continue to collaborate with scientists, other medical researchers, and manufacturers to address a range of injuries and physical disabilities. Their work in healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and other fields is expanding the possibilities for biomedical engineering products and services.

Occupational Title

SOC Code

Employment, 2022

Projected Employment, 2032

Change, 2022-32

Employment by Industry

Percent

Numeric

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers

17-2031

19,700

20,700

5

1,000
Get data

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state's websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

For information about education and career resources for bioengineering, biomedical engineering, and general engineering, visit
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering American Society for Engineering Education Biomedical Engineering Society IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Technology Student Association
For information about accredited engineering programs, visit
ABET
CareerOneStop

For a career video on biomedical engineers, visit
Biomedical Engineers
O*NET
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software.

# data[].attributes.headline
I chose this website because I want to engineer new and environmentally friendly things.

# data[].attributes.subject
I chose this website because I want to engineer new and environmentally friendly things.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Summary

Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XIQSrYi0O0.

Quick Facts: Civil Engineers
2020 Median Pay

$88,570 per year
$42.58 per hour

Civil engineers design, build, and supervise infrastructure projects and systems.

Civil engineers generally work in a variety of locations and conditions. It is common for them to split their time between working in an office and working outdoors at construction sites so that they can monitor operations or solve problems onsite. Most work full time.

Civil engineers need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, in one of its specialties, or in civil engineering technology. They typically need a graduate degree and licensure for promotion to senior positions. Although licensure requirements vary by state, civil engineers usually must be licensed if they provide services directly to the public.

The median annual wage for civil engineers was $88,570 in May 2020.

Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 25,000 openings for civil engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for civil engineers.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of civil engineers with similar occupations.

Learn more about civil engineers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

Civil engineers conceive, design, build, supervise, operate, construct and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment. Many civil engineers work in planning, design, construction, research, and education.

Duties

Civil engineers typically do the following:

Analyze long range plans, survey reports, maps, and other data to plan and design projects

Consider construction costs, government regulations, potential environmental hazards, and other factors during the planning and risk-analysis stages of a project

Compile and submit permit applications to local, state, and federal agencies, verifying that projects comply with various regulations

Oversee and analyze the results of soil testing to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations

Analyze the results of tests on building materials, such as concrete, wood, asphalt, or steel, for use in particular projects

Prepare cost estimates for materials, equipment, or labor to determine a project's economic feasibility

Use design software to plan and design transportation systems, hydraulic systems, and structures in line with industry and government standards

Perform or oversee surveying operations to establish building locations, site layouts, reference points, grades, and elevations to guide construction

Manage the repair, maintenance, and replacement of public and private infrastructure

Civil engineers also must present their findings to the public on topics such as bid proposals, environmental impact statements, or property descriptions.

Many civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions ranging from supervisor of a construction site to city engineer, public works director, and city manager. As supervisors, they are tasked with ensuring that safe work practices are followed at construction sites.

Other civil engineers work in design, construction, research, and teaching. Civil engineers work with others on projects and may be assisted by civil engineering technicians.

Civil engineers prepare permit documents for work on projects in renewable energy. They verify that the projects will comply with federal, state, and local requirements. These engineers conduct structural analyses for large-scale photovoltaic, or solar energy, projects. They also evaluate the ability of solar array support structures and buildings to tolerate stresses from wind, seismic activity, and other sources. For large-scale wind projects, civil engineers often prepare roadbeds to handle large trucks that haul in the turbines.

Civil engineers work on complex projects, and they can achieve job satisfaction in seeing the project reach completion. They usually specialize in one of several areas.

Construction engineers manage construction projects, ensuring that they are scheduled and built in accordance with plans and specifications. These engineers typically are responsible for the design and safety of temporary structures used during construction. They may also oversee budgetary, time-management, and communications aspects of a project.

Geotechnical engineers work to make sure that foundations for built objects ranging from streets and buildings to runways and dams, are solid. They focus on how structures built by civil engineers, such as buildings and tunnels, interact with the earth (including soil and rock). In addition, they design and plan for slopes, retaining walls, and tunnels.

Structural engineers design and assess major projects, such as buildings, bridges, or dams, to ensure their strength and durability.

Transportation engineers plan, design, operate, and maintain everyday systems, such as streets and highways, but they also plan larger projects, such as airports, ship ports, mass transit systems, and harbors.

The work of civil engineers is closely related to the work of environmental engineers.

Civil engineers held about 309,800 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of civil engineers were as follows:

Engineering services

50%

State government, excluding education and hospitals

12

Local government, excluding education and hospitals

10

Nonresidential building construction

6

Federal government, excluding postal service

3

Civil engineers work in a variety of locations and conditions. When working on designs, civil engineers may spend most of their time indoors in offices. However, construction engineers may spend much of their time outdoors at construction sites monitoring operations or solving onsite problems. Some jobs may require frequent relocation to different areas and offices in jobsite trailers.

Civil engineers who function as project managers may work from cars or trucks as they move from site to site. Many civil engineers work for government agencies in government office buildings or facilities. Occasionally, civil engineers travel abroad to work on large engineering projects in other countries.

Work Schedules

Civil engineers typically work full time and some work more than 40 hours per week. Engineers who direct projects may need to work extra hours to monitor progress on the projects, to ensure that designs meet requirements, and to guarantee that deadlines are met.

Civil engineers need a bachelor's degree. They typically need a graduate degree and a license for promotion to senior positions. Although licensure requirements vary from state to state, civil engineers usually must be licensed if they provide services directly to the public.

Education

Civil engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, civil engineering technologies, or a related field, such as construction. Programs in civil engineering and civil engineering technology include coursework in math, statistics, engineering mechanics and systems, and fluid dynamics, depending on the specialty. Courses include a mix of traditional classroom learning, work in laboratories, and fieldwork. Programs may include cooperative programs, also known as co-ops, in which students gain work experience while pursuing a degree.

A degree from a program accredited by ABET is needed to earn the professional engineer (PE) license. In many states, a bachelor's degree in civil engineering technology also meets the academic requirement for obtaining a license.

Further education after the bachelor's degree, along with the PE license and previous experience, is helpful in getting a job as a manager. For more information on engineering managers, see the profile on architectural and engineering managers.

Important Qualities

Decisionmaking skills. Civil engineers often balance multiple and frequently conflicting objectives, such as determining the feasibility of plans with regard to financial costs and safety concerns. Urban and regional planners often look to civil engineers for advice on these issues. Civil engineers must be able to make good decisions based on best practices, their own technical knowledge, and their own experience.

Leadership skills. Civil engineers take ultimate responsibility for the projects that they manage or research that they perform. Therefore, they must be able to lead planners, surveyors, construction managers, civil engineering technicians, civil engineering technologists, and others in implementing their project plan.

Math skills. Civil engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Organizational skills. Only licensed civil engineers can sign the design documents for infrastructure projects. This requirement makes it imperative that civil engineers be able to monitor and evaluate the work at the jobsite as a project progresses. That way, they can ensure compliance with the design documents. Civil engineers also often manage several projects at the same time, and thus must be able to balance time needs and to effectively allocate resources.

Problem-solving skills. Civil engineers work at the highest level of the planning, design, construction, and operation of multifaceted projects or research. The many variables involved require that they possess the ability to identify and evaluate complex problems. They must be able to then use their skill and training to develop cost-effective, safe, and efficient solutions.

Speaking skills. Civil engineers must present reports and plans to audiences of people with a wide range of backgrounds and technical knowledge. This requires the ability to speak clearly and to converse with people in various settings, and to translate engineering and scientific information into easy-to-understand concepts.

Writing skills. Civil engineers must be able to communicate with others, such as architects, landscape architects, urban and regional planners. They also must be able to explain projects to elected officials and citizens. Civil engineers must be able to write reports that are clear, concise, and understandable to those with little or no technical or scientific background.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Licensure is not required for entry-level positions as a civil engineer. A Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of leadership and independence, can be acquired later in one's career. Licensed engineers are called professional engineers (PEs). A PE can oversee the work of other engineers, approve design plans, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure generally requires

A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program

A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam

Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years working under a licensed engineer

A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam

The initial FE exam can be taken after earning a bachelor's degree. Engineers who pass this exam commonly are called engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs). After meeting work experience requirements, EITs and EIs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering.

Each state issues its own licenses. Most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state's requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licenses.

The American Society of Civil Engineers offers certifications in coastal engineering, geotechnical engineering, ports engineering, water resources engineering, and other fields. Additionally, civil engineers can become certified in building security and in sustainability.

Advancement

Civil engineers with ample experience may move into senior positions, such as project managers or functional managers of design, construction, operation, or maintenance. However, they would first need to obtain the Professional Engineering (PE) license, because only licensed engineers can assume responsibilities for public projects.

After gaining licensure, a professional engineer may seek credentialing that demonstrates his or her expertise in a civil engineering specialty. Such a credential may be helpful for advancement to senior technical or even managerial positions.

Median annual wages, May 2020

The median annual wage for civil engineers was $88,570 in May 2020. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $56,160, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $144,810.

In May 2020, the median annual wages for civil engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Federal government, excluding postal service

$99,750

Local government, excluding education and hospitals

95,760

Engineering services

89,460

State government, excluding education and hospitals

84,670

Nonresidential building construction

76,230

Civil engineers typically work full time and some work more than 40 hours per week. Engineers who direct projects may need to work extra hours in order to monitor progress on projects, to ensure that designs meet requirements, and to guarantee that deadlines are met.

Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 25,000 openings for civil engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

As current U.S. infrastructure experiences growing obsolescence, civil engineers will be needed to manage projects to rebuild, repair, and upgrade bridges, roads, levees, dams, airports, buildings, and other structures.

A growing population likely means that new water systems will be required while, at the same time, aging, existing water systems must be maintained to reduce or eliminate leaks. In addition, more waste treatment plants will be needed to help clean the nation's waterways. Civil engineers will continue to play a key part in all of this work.

The work of civil engineers will be needed for renewable-energy projects. Thus, as these new projects gain approval, civil engineers will be further involved in overseeing the construction of structures such as wind farms and solar arrays.

Although state and local governments continue to face financial challenges and may have difficulty funding all projects, some delayed projects will have to be completed to build and maintain critical infrastructure, as well as to protect the public and the environment.

Occupational Title

SOC Code

Employment, 2020

Projected Employment, 2030

Change, 2020-30

Employment by Industry

Percent

Numeric

Civil engineers

17-2051

309,800

335,100

8

25,300
Get data

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state's websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

For information about general engineering education and career resources, visit
American Society for Engineering Education Technology Student Association
For information about engineering summer camps, visit
Engineering Education Service Center
For more information about licensure, visit
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying National Society of Professional Engineers
For information about accredited programs in civil engineering and civil engineering technology, visit
ABET
For more information about civil engineers, visit
American Society of Civil Engineers
CareerOneStop

For a career video on civil engineers, visit
Civil Engineers
O*NET
Civil Engineers Transportation Engineers Water/Wastewater Engineers

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XIQSrYi0O0. Quick Facts: Civil Engineers 2020 Median Pay $88,570 per year $42.58 per hour Civil engineers design, build, and supervise infrastructure projects and systems. Civil engineers generally work in a variety of locations and conditions.

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I chose this website because I'm really interested in Egyptology

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I chose this website because I'm really interested in Egyptology

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For all the changes in engineering design, the basic principles have remained the same since the time of Ancient Egypt.
In Ancient Egypt there exists evidence of the basic design process of defining objectives, performing research, specifying requirements, iterating while developing solutions, and prototyping before building the final version. The same process is followed today.

What has changed enormously, however, is the understanding of the underlying scientific principles and, more importantly, the tools used to make design decisions. Given the rapid developments over the past few decades, it begs the question as to how new technology can change the way we do engineering design of complex structures and machines.

Looking at the past 20 years, one of the biggest advancements has been the development of scientific computing and the use of computer simulation and visualization. For example, the areas of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element modeling (FEM) have changed the way industrial equipment is designed by reducing the need for expensive experiments and scale mock-ups.

How much computer simulations save in terms of development cost is debatable since the simulation codes themselves need to be validated via experiments. What is undeniable, however, is the increase in productivity and ability to inexpensively try many designs to select the best one. This enables complex machines to be designed faster, with a final product that has better performance since a wider range of solutions are explored digitally.

Looking forward, there are many new tools that are being used to improve engineering design. For now, however, we would like to focus on two recent emerging trends: The role of social media and additive manufacturing in engineering design.

Social Media: Engineering Powerhouse
The widespread use of social media has revolutionized how individuals around the world interact with each other. Similarly, the use of social media is finding its way into engineering design via the concepts of open innovation. Companies jealously guard their engineering prowess - it's the crown jewel of innovation. As a result, design solutions are developed entirely in-house. This involves, at most, a few thousand engineers for the largest companies. By definition, the number of ideas and solutions that can be explored is limited.

There is a growing recognition that open innovation enables a competitive advantage by tapping into the world's billions of minds for solutions. We're now seeing companies using social media to crowd-source design challenges with prizes for the top solution. Far from being marketing gimmicks, these challenges are tied directly to solving specific engineering design problems encountered by the product engineers. The key is to abstract the problem sufficiently so that the solution is applicable, without revealing too much information to competitors.

Proctor & Gamble has been using this design challenge approach for more than a decade to tackle some of its most intriguing problems. Similarly, GE recently used such a challenge to design a lighter weight, lower cost aerospace mounting bracket. More than 700 entries were submitted and the winning design weighed less than one pound, compared to the original bracket design that was four-and-a-half pounds.

Large corporations have to address many issues such as intellectual property, unambiguously specifying the problem, and defining the evaluation criteria. One of the lessons learned was that tapping into a billion minds resulted in a very large number of submissions. GE's evaluation became an unexpected bottleneck as judges were simply overwhelmed. An interesting suggestion evolved: Can the evaluation itself be somehow crowd-sourced? A key unanswered question is the sustainability of such a crowd-sourced solution approach. Ten of the 700 entries in GE's contest were awarded cash prizes - that left 690 entrants who were uncompensated for their efforts. And many efforts were significant. Will participation in similar future challenges result in similar worldwide interest?

What is also interesting is the fundamental change in engineering design that went from a process of creative invention to a process of effective evaluation.

Enter 3D Printing
This leads very naturally into the role of additive manufacturing. As mentioned earlier, computer simulation changed engineering design because of its ability to rapidly experiment and prototype different solutions. This replaced a cumbersome physical experimentation process that was significantly limited by the expensive process of building and testing all the possible configurations. The challenge remains, however, in the fidelity of the simulations and relying solely on simulation for the final design.

The multi-billion dollar delays to the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 can be partially attributed to shortfalls in the simulations used. As a result, it becomes apparent that a hybrid approach of simulation and rapid prototype testing becomes critical to the modern engineer's design arsenal. Additive manufacturing, sometimes referred to as 3D printing, is one of the key enablers as it inexpensively translates the digital geometry to a manufactured test article. This enables the engineering design process to return to physical experimentation for real-world validation. Instead of relying on simulation to generate the best solution - and hoping it is indeed the best - it's now becoming feasible to use simulation to generate the top 10 designs and testing each one. Furthermore, each of the designs can be radically different since the cost of making the part is largely dictated by the material cost alone. In fact, no longer bound by the limitations of traditional machining techniques, the simulations can be let loose to produce even more optimal designs that are extremely complex. This approach was used in the GE aerospace mounting bracket challenge where the top 10 designs were all manufactured and tested - something that would have been inconceivable previously.

From Ancient Egypt to today, the idea of iterating on different solutions has been core to the engineering design process. The evolution that lead to the design of the Pyramids of Giza spanned centuries with design concepts traced to the earliest mastabas (mud-brick tombs) first used in 3200 BC. Imhotep is largely credited with designing the first stone pyramid at Saqqara in 2680 BC, which was the precursor to the Great Pyramid in 2560 BC.

Each of these iterations spanned hundreds of years, and in most cases, the design was entirely conceived by single individuals. With today's technologies of social media and additive manufacturing, the design cycle of complex systems can be greatly enhanced by engaging millions of minds around the world to produce the best solutions in time-scales of weeks instead of centuries. The key challenge for the design engineer of the future involves developing engagement models and evaluation techniques to access the collective creativity of humanity, rather than relying on the ingenuity of the few. As a leader of your company, how are you preparing to compete in this new world of global open engineering design?

Adam Rasheed is a Senior Research Engineer at GE Global Research focusing on hypersonics, advanced propulsion, pulse detonation engines and most recently, operations research. William T. Carter, Ph.D. is a research scientist in the Additive Manufacturing Lab for GE Global Research. His work concentrates on additive manufacturing of metal parts for aircraft engines.

Engineering Design 2.0: From Ancient Egypt to the Future of Engineering Design was originally published on Ideas Lab

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Engineering Design 2.0: From Ancient Egypt to the Future of Engineering Design

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For all the changes in engineering design, the basic principles have remained the same since the time of Ancient Egypt. In Ancient Egypt there exists evidence of the basic design process of defining objectives, performing research, specifying requirements, iterating while developing solutions, and prototyping before building the final version.

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Bolstered by our expertise in developing applications for AI, the SEI is leading a movement to cultivate and mature the professional discipline of AI engineering. This discipline will lay the groundwork for developing scalable, robust and secure, and human-centered AI systems as well as the planning and commitment it takes to support, expand, and evolve those systems for the coming decades.
Join the movement to establish and mature the AI Engineering discipline. Get in touch

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Bolstered by our expertise in developing applications for AI, the SEI is leading a movement to cultivate and mature the professional discipline of AI engineering. This discipline will lay the groundwork for developing scalable, robust and secure, and human-centered AI systems as well as the planning and commitment it takes to support, expand, and evolve those systems for the coming decades.