Pros and Cons of of being a Civil Engineer | (civil engineering is worth it?)

Summary

Civil engineering is a dynamic field with high demand, offering excellent pay potential and diverse specializations. Civil engineers play a crucial role in community development, designing and overseeing large-scale projects. Despite the rewarding career, it comes with significant job pressures, long hours, and increased scrutiny. They often work outdoors and face the risk of work accidents, making it a challenging yet respected profession.

Takeaways

• 🏗 Civil engineering is a prominent career field with a focus on designing and constructing physical structures like bridges, roads, dams, and buildings.
• 🌐 Civil engineers are always in high demand due to the constant need for infrastructure development.
• 💼 Excellent pay potential with civil engineers earning a median salary of $83,550 in 2016 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• 🔍 Wide range of specializations available within civil engineering, including structural, construction, geotechnical, water resources, and transportation.
• 🌆 Civil engineers have the opportunity to work on a macroscopic scale, dealing with large structures and applying physics laws.
• 🌍 Travel opportunities are common as civil engineers often work on different sites and travel to new places.
• 👥 Collaborative work environment with civil engineers working closely with contractors, architects, electrical engineers, and construction workers.
• 🎨 Civil engineers combine technical competence with creativity in designing structures that are both functional and aesthetically appealing.
• 🏙️ Central figures in community development, civil engineers contribute to the growth and prosperity of communities through infrastructure.
• 🏆 Civil engineering is a respected profession, with engineers playing a crucial role in the progress and functionality of communities.
• 🚧 High job pressure due to the significant scale and budget of projects, which can lead to significant losses if failures occur.
• 👷‍♂️ Work environment and hours can be challenging, with many civil engineers working more than 40 hours a week and often on-site.
• 🔎 Increased scrutiny due to many projects being government-funded, leading to regular reviews and audits.
• ⚠️ High rate of work accidents in the construction industry, which can add stress to the job.

Q & A

What is civil engineering?

Civil engineering is a discipline that involves the design and construction of physically built structures such as bridges, roads, dams, canals, and large residential and commercial buildings.

Why is there a continuous demand for civil engineers?

Society is always expanding, and the demand for the construction of infrastructure like dams, bridges, and buildings is infinite, ensuring a continuous need for civil engineers.

What is the typical median salary for civil engineers according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil engineers earn a median salary of $83,540 as of 2016.

What are the main areas of focus for civil engineers?

The main areas of focus for civil engineers include structural engineering, construction, geotechnical engineering, Water Resources, and transportation.

How does civil engineering differ from other engineering fields in terms of scale?

Civil engineers work on a macroscopic scale, dealing with large structures and applying the laws of physics, unlike other engineers such as chemical or biological engineers who often work on a microscopic scale.

What kind of traveling opportunities do civil engineers have?

Civil engineers get opportunities to work on different sites and travel to new places, as much of their work time is spent outdoors at work sites.

What are some of the creative challenges civil engineers face?

Civil engineers have the unique ability to combine strong technical competence with creative designing, balancing functional value with aesthetic appeal in communities.

Why are civil engineers considered important in community development?

Civil engineers are central figures in community development, providing the basis of city infrastructure such as buildings and roads, and optimizing the performance and efficiency of community systems.

What are some of the job pressures civil engineers face?

Civil engineers face significant job pressures due to the importance and scale of the projects they manage, which can lead to significant losses or calamities if failures occur.

How does the work environment and hours affect civil engineers?

Civil engineers often work in the field wearing hard hats and helmets, not in a tie and suit job. They sometimes work more than 40 hours a week, and a significant amount of time is spent on the road or in remote areas.

Why might civil engineering projects be under increased scrutiny?

Many civil engineering projects are government-funded or government-run, leading to increased scrutiny from reviewers and auditors overseeing government spending.

What is the rate of work accidents in the construction industry?

The construction industry, where civil engineers often work, has a high rate of work accidents and a poor reputation for coping with problems such as meeting deadlines, cost, and quality targets.