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Civil Engineer

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AVG. SALARY

$86,310

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EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Architecture and Construction cluster Design/Pre-Construction pathway.

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

Bachelor's degree

Civil engineers need a bachelor's degree. They typically need a graduate degree and licensure 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.

Insider Info

Additional Information

Civil engineering is a rewarding but also very responsible field. Mistakes could cost lives and millions of dollars. Because of the risks, there is strict protocol regarding education, training and licensing.

If you're still in high school, math, English and physics are essential. Without these courses, you'll have to take a year of prerequisites at college before you can be accepted into a civil engineering program.

Your next step is to get a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. This takes four or five years. This degree used to be a ticket to the top in an engineering career, but employers are increasingly looking for candidates with at least a master's degree.

"There are four-year bachelor's degrees and lots of people go and do that, but if you really want to specialize and advance in your area of expertise, I would say a master's would probably be a good idea," says civil engineer Vic Perry.

Tina Adams, however, doesn't notice master's degrees becoming more common in her area. She's a civil engineer based in Oregon, specializing in transportation and infrastructure projects.

"I think they're more common [with] structural engineers or more specialized engineering," says Adams. "For the large part, I see recent college grads (with bachelor's degrees) able to get jobs fairly easily, as long as they're proficient in the computer skills that they have to learn, because most civil engineers start off doing some type of drafting."

Co-op programs are highly recommended by people in this field. Co-op programs require students to complete on-the-job work placements while getting their degree. This is a great opportunity for work experience and networking.

"It helps you to understand where your passions and interests are within the discipline of engineering," says Perry. "I think the hands-on experience through the education process is important."

Some areas require students to pass an engineering ethics exam before being certified.

Extra Requirements

Civil engineers are not required to be licensed at the entry level. More experienced civil engineers, who assume more responsibility, usually earn the Professional Engineer (PE) license. 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.

For additional information, visit these websites:

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

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