Why people Choose Civil Engineering
Most people choose civil engineering because of the practicality of application of the theory learned in class. As a discipline, civil engineering involves the design, construction, maintenance and operation of structures involved in water management, roads structural and geotechnical projects. For employment purposes, one only needs a bachelor’s degree to start working and designing big projects. The good thing concerning civil engineering is that individuals work as teams where they can share knowledge and experience. Experienced engineers normally aid the new graduates in understanding and applying the different concepts learned in class.
Secondly, most individuals will choose a career in civil engineering because of the great pay that comes with being an engineer. The salary may vary between $70,000 dollars and $105,000 with the median earnings at $80,000 (Landers 26). Working for government agencies is beneficial as the employer provides benefits such as paid leave and health insurance. Additionally there are retirement benefits packages. According to Ferguson (28), typical working hours for civil engineers is about 40 hours. One can normally work in a design office or the field, in remote and foreign places.
Thirdly, the civil engineering field has been growing at a very high rate. The increasing market has necessitated the need to have a high number of individuals pursuing careers in the field of civil engineering. The increase in infrastructural development is likely to cause an increase in the demand for engineers. Hence, job opportunities continue to increase for the civil engineers. Furthermore, civil engineering is an exciting career. It normally involves design and construction of infrastructure that enhances the living conditions of the society. The increased need to have engineering structures that are environmentally friendly has increased the level of creativity in civil engineering. This makes individuals come up with great ideas that are not only appealing but serve the interests of the public.
Civil engineering offers a variety of career opportunities. An individual may choose to specialize in transportation engineering, water engineering, coastal engineering, harbor engineering, building engineering or geotechnical engineering. This depends on an individual’s preference and interests. With these many opportunities, a civil engineer has the chance to tour the world doing the different tasks and jobs of each specialty in civil engineering.
Education and Training
Salary
Based from records from the U.S. Department of Labor, the mean salary for civil engineers is about $77,230 (Ferguson 28). Starting salaries at bachelor’s degree level falls around$ 43,679. With a master's degree, the salary is about $48,050 and with a doctorate degree, the starting salary is about $59,625.
Works Cited
Careers in Focus. New York: Ferguson, 2007. Print.
Echaore-McDavid, Susan, and Richard A. McDavid. Engineering. New York: Infobase Pub,
2006. Internet resource.
Landers, Jay. "Civil Engineering Degree Confers Median Earnings Of $78,000, Report Says." Civil Engineering (08857024) 81.7 (2011): 24-26. Business Source Complete. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
