Civil engineers have a very big job, and they’re paid handsomely for their work. The median annual salary for civil engineers in the U.S. is $83,540, as of May 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is 2.25 percent higher than the national average salary of $37,040.
Those holding Chicago civil engineering jobs receive a slightly higher average salary of $90,880 are employed as civil engineers and roughly 303,500 in the U.S., according to the BLS.
Working as a Civil Engineer
No two civil engineering jobs are exactly the same, but generally speaking, these professionals conceptualize, design, create and maintain infrastructure projects and systems. Some of the job titles commonly held by civil engineers include city manager, public works director and construction site supervisor.
A few of the responsibilities generally associated with a civil engineering job include:
- Analyzing plans, surveys, maps and other data for the planning and design of projects.
- Evaluating factors such as construction costs, government regulations, and potential environmental hazards during a project’s planning and risk assessment stages.
- Overseeing the repair, maintenance, and replacement of public and private infrastructure.
Opportunities exist in both the public and private sector, working on projects like roads, buildings, and bridges. Nearly half — 48% — of civil engineers in the U.S. are employed in engineering services. The rest work in state and local government — excluding education and hospitals — nonresidential building construction and the federal government — excluding postal service.
A Day in the Life of a Civil Engineer
Work environments vary greatly by job type. During the design phase, most time is spent at the office, but many positions also require a significant amount of time on job sites. Most civil engineers work full-time, and overtime is common.
Roughly three in 10 professionals worked more than 40 hours per week in 2016, according to the BLS. Extra hours are often required when working on projects, to ensure that all requirements are satisfied and deadlines are met.
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