Did You Know?
Civil engineers building the Great Wall of China used a mortar made from boiled rice mixed with limestone to hold the stones together, and it hardened so tough that you would need a jackhammer to break it apart today.
The Numbers Behind the Career
About 24,000 civil engineering job openings are projected annually over the next decade.
There were about 338,000 civil engineering jobs in the U.S. in 2023.
The 2023 median annual salary for civil engineers was $95,890.
Where This Career Is Headed
Civil engineering is being transformed by advances in materials science, digital modeling technology, and a growing emphasis on designing infrastructure that works with natural systems rather than against them. Engineers are increasingly using tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM) and advanced simulation software to test designs virtually before a single piece of material is ordered. The rise of new construction materials, including ultra-high-performance concrete, engineered timber, and composite structures, is expanding what civil engineers can build and how long it will last. At the same time, the profession is moving toward infrastructure that is designed to be repaired, adapted, and upgraded over time rather than replaced from scratch, changing how engineers think about the entire life cycle of what they build.
Advanced simulation and digital twin technology will allow civil engineers to model and test entire infrastructure systems virtually, catching design flaws before construction begins and dramatically reducing costly errors.
New engineered materials, including self-healing concrete that can seal its own cracks, will give civil engineers tools to build structures that last far longer with less maintenance.
The growing field of biophilic and living infrastructure, such as green roofs, constructed wetlands, and urban forests designed into city systems, will pose entirely new design challenges for civil engineers.
Education & Certification
Civil engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a closely related field from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)-accredited program. Many universities offer specializations within civil engineering programs covering structural, transportation, environmental, geotechnical, or water resources engineering. Advanced roles in research, academia, or large public infrastructure projects often require a master's degree or doctorate.
The path to professional practice also involves licensure: civil engineers who offer services directly to the public must be licensed as Professional Engineers (PE), which requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam after graduation, gaining four years of work experience, and then passing the PE exam. Many civil engineers also pursue specialty certifications from organizations like the American Society of Civil Engineers to deepen their expertise in areas such as structural analysis or water systems.
To Prepare...
Take courses in math through pre-calculus or calculus, physics, and earth science, which form the academic core of civil engineering study and are required for most engineering degree programs.
Build hands-on problem-solving skills through robotics clubs, bridge-building competitions, or science olympiad events that challenge you to design and test physical structures under real constraints.
Research ABET-accredited civil engineering programs and explore summer bridge programs or engineering academies offered by universities, which give high school students an early look at what engineering education involves.
Spotlight: Explore the Life of a Civil Engineer
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