Job Description

Civil Engineers design and supervise the construction of roads, bridges, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams and water supply, and sewage systems. Many civil engineers work as a supervisor at a construction site while others may work in design, construction, research or teaching.

Necessary Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Helpful High School Courses

Advanced Mathematics, Auto-CAD, Communications, Computer Applications, Science

Working Conditions

• May work in offices, construction sites or major industrial and commercial centers
• Usually work a 40-hour week
• May need to move from place to place in order to work on different projects including remote areas or foreign countries

Salary Range

• 2003, Delaware average annual salary, $55,140
• 2003, Delaware average hourly wage, $26.51

Career Ladder Information

• Advanced college degrees earn higher salary
• Willingness to accept supervisory or administrative positions usually means a promotion
• Many advance by becoming self-employed as consultants
• Many states require engineers to register as Professional Engineers by passing a PE exam

Personal Qualities and Interests

     You:

• Like mathematics
• Have an interest in how things are designed and made
• Enjoy both inside and outside work
• Like working on a team as well as supervising others
• Are creative, inquisitive and detail oriented

Did you know?

• Many civil engineers open a business and become self-employed.

Additional Information

• Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco

  
  

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