Civil Engineer Salary By Experience |
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| Experience Level | Low Hourly | High Hourly | Low Annual | High Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 Year | $18.52 | $28.82 | $38,530.00 | $59,950.00 |
| 1-5 Years | $19.88 | $32.05 | $41,360.00 | $66,670.00 |
| 5-10 Years | $23.87 | $38.38 | $49,640.00 | $79,830.00 |
| 10-20 Years | $24.96 | $48.71 | $51,910.00 | $101,310.00 |
| 20 Years + | $29.04 | $63.28 | $60,400.00 | $131,620.00 |
A civil engineer is a professional qualified to practice civil engineering, one of the oldest professions in human history. The origins of civil engineers dates back to ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) as humans began to shift from living in nomadic societies and started living in man-made structures. The ancient Great Pyramids of Egypt, the Coliseum and the Appian Way of the Ancient Roman Empire, and the Great Wall of China are considered to be some of the wonders of early civil engineering.
Today, civil engineers still retain the core responsibilities that molded their job description - to design, build, and maintain infrastructures designed to benefit communities. These infrastructures include residential and commercial buildings, roads, bridges, harbors, airports, and dams to name a few. With new technology and scientific discoveries, modern civil engineers are now capable of building better structures. Here are some of the common tasks performed by civil engineers:
Because the civil engineering profession is applicable in almost every private and public sector such as residential housing, business, government, and international relations, it is natural for civil engineers to work with almost every other specialists and professionals. Civil engineers often team up with land surveyors, geographers, marine engineers, architects, construction professionals, government officials, real estate and land developers, urban planners, soil scientists, and environmentalists.
In most cases, civil engineers also work with engineers from other distinct engineering fields in complex projects. It is not surprising to civil engineering professionals work with mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, and electrical engineers. In the US Armed Forces, the core structure of military and combat engineering is mostly based in the principles taught in civil engineering.
As of May 2011, there are 254,130 civil engineers working in the United States and are making an median civil engineer salary of $77,990 a year or around $39.76 per hour, according to a recent report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those who belong to the top 10% are earning $119,620 a year or more, whereas those who are categorized in the lowest 10% are paid under $50,370 a year.
Architecture and construction firms are the biggest employers of civil engineers in the United States. Around 129,350 civil engineers are employed by such companies and are getting $84,200 on average per year, which is higher than the national salary average. State and local government offices have been also providing quite a few employment options for civil engineers. 34,840 of them are now working with state offices while 29,040 civil engineers are connected with local government agencies. Both sectors also pay substantial civil engineering salary rates, though state government offices pay out an average wage of $75,140 a year, lower than the national standard. Local government agencies, on the other hand, shell out $84,080 a year on the average.
Civil engineers who work with commercial and industrial manufacturers (except for automotive and electrical) receive the highest average salary rate at $138,560 a year. Those who work with specialized design service providers earn $106,150 annually. Civil engineering experts employed by heavy civil engineering firms are paid at $106,150 per annum.
Civil engineers are scattered throughout many business sectors and employer types. Each sector has its own requirements and standard in determining the salary of their employees. Many factors, such as the workload, working hours, working environment, and stress levels vary from one employer to another and these factors come into consideration when establishing the civil engineer salary.
All civil engineer candidates must have a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. All states in the country only recognize civil engineering programs approved by ABET (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). It is strictly observed that aspiring civil engineers are not given license to practice if they did not graduate from a program accredited by ABET.
Civil engineering courses typically take four years to finish. Included in the curriculum are basic and advanced subject areas like mathematics, statistics, engineering mechanics and systems, and fluid dynamics. Most colleges and universities combine class work, laboratory, and field work to better prepare students at the start of their civil engineering careers.
All civil engineer aspirants are obliged to take and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination and meet state requirements to obtain the Civil Engineering (CE) Intern or an Engineer-in-Training designation.
After gaining considerable amount of experience meeting other state and local requirements, they must take and pass other certifying exams to become a Professional Civil Engineer (PCE).
Signing up with legitimate civil engineering associations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers can solidify one's chances of employment as well as providing one with significant pull in negotiating for higher civil engineer salary pay rates.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics sees a 19% growth rate in the civil engineer profession within ten years, from 2010 to year 2020. The said government agency expects the total number of civil engineers will amount to 313,900 by 2020 from 262,800 in 2010. The whole growth is described by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as fast as the average for all occupations.
The demand for civil engineers will continue to increase as many building and other infrastructure age while others will be in a decaying state. Civil engineers will be tapped to repair and maintain structures deemed usable and head the construction of new roads, bridges, harbors, and ports.
The growing population, particularly in major cities, will cause city governments to repair, improve, and replace or construct effective water systems, drainage and sewage facilities, and other key city infrastructures. The need for these changes will increase the significance and demand for civil engineers.
Civil engineers usually start out as engineering staff or assistants in architecture and construction companies. Some will see their careers begin in local and state governments. Those who have gained extensive experience and spent considerable number of years are promoted to higher positions such as construction manager and senior building consultant to name a few. Civil engineers can also shift to academics and teach civil engineering subjects at college level.
In some cases, a doctor's degree is required for further advancement. Some civil engineers who opted to open their own firms or operate as freelancers are obliged by government laws to be fully licensed and certified in their chosen civil engineering fields before they can sell their services to potential clients. A doctor's degree is also needed for job positions involved in construction research and development.
Advancement is also possible for civil engineers who opt to become a specialized civil engineer. Some specialized disciplines under civil engineering are geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and transportation engineering. Becoming specialized allows civil engineers to narrow their clients and demand for higher civil engineer salary rates compared to civil engineers who are not specialized.
Listed are some of the occupations related to the civil engineer profession:
Civil engineers will always be in demand in our developing societies, and experience a high level of respect and job satisfaction. Aspiring professionals should have excellent problem solving skills, for addressing the complex and unique requirements of various jobs; generally, no two projects are the same for a civil engineer, and designing large scale projects can present huge challenges.
Furthermore, an engineer must be good at making significant decisions on complex issues, as other professionals will often look to the civil engineer to make the final call on a problem. This also means that leadership and project management are required, especially if an individual wants to progress in their career and lead a team of engineers in time. In terms of education, a student would do well to develop their advanced math and writing skills in particular in order to transition smoothly into civil engineering training.
Being one of the oldest occupations known to man, a civil engineer is in the position to significantly and visibly contribute to their community. It is a rewarding career, financially speaking, with ample opportunities to make well over a hundred thousand dollars per year. However, it is also reported to be very satisfying, as civil engineers have the opportunity to see their work come to life and serve the public for many years.