Civil engineers and the jobs awaiting them 

Civil engineering deals with the construction of infrastructure and buildings. The field covers project management in the commercial construction business, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, and coastal and hydrology engineering. This multi-disciplinary field is stable and lucrative.

The two major branches of civil engineering are construction and structural engineering. Project manager positions are generally open to engineers specializing in construction. They oversee the recommended timeline and time management for the project, including the organization of trades involved in the development. As project managers, they steer the project well within the plan and timelines, and consult with other engineers associated with the project like architectural engineers and mechanical engineers.

In structural engineering, civil engineers are in charge of the design of bridges or any other structural or load bearing construction. Engineers in this field must prepare a safe design while taking into account the construction materials, expected loads that shall be placed upon the finished structure. Special issues such as wind and seismic conditions are also considered. Structural engineers are needed by companies and private experts who specialize in construction and design.

In most cases, civil engineers are paid according to their experience. With a median annual wage of $83, 540, civil engineers might need to work more than 40 hours per week to effectively oversee projects, ensuring that the designs adhere to requirements, and that the timeline for the project is followed. A civil engineer who has been working in the industry for a decade could earn about $100,000 each year.

Reddy Kancharla is a former engineer with over 25 years of experience in civil construction and geotechnical consultation. He has most recently worked for Testwell, whose presidency he held until 2010. For more updates on civil engineering, visit this blog.