more marketable, as the PE license allows the individual to sign off on temporary
structure designs.
A construction project.
Abilities
Construction engineers are problem solvers. They contribute to the creation of
infrastructure that best meets the unique demands of its environment. They must be
able to understand infrastructure life cycles. When compared and contrasted to
design engineers, construction engineers bring to the table their own unique
perspectives for solving technical challenges with clarity and imagination. While
individuals considering this career path should certainly have a strong
understanding of mathematics and science, many other
skills are also highly
desirable, including critical and analytical thinking, time management, people
management and good communication skills.
Educational requirements
Individuals looking to obtain a construction engineering degree must first ensure
that the program is accredited by the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology
(ABET). ABET accreditation is assurance that a college or university
program meets the quality standards established by the profession for which it
prepares its students. In the US there are currently twenty-five programs that exist
in the entire country so careful college consideration is advised.
[4]
A typical construction engineering curriculum is a mixture of
engineering
mechanics
,
engineering design
, construction management and general science and
mathematics. This usually leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The B.S. degree
along with some design or construction experience is
sufficient for most entry-
level positions. Graduate schools may be an option for those who want to go
further in depth of the construction and engineering subjects taught at the
undergraduate level. In most cases construction engineering graduates look to
either civil engineering,
engineering management
or
business administration
as a
possible graduate degree.
Job prospects
Job prospects for construction engineers generally have a strong cyclical variation.
For example, starting in 2008 and continuing until at least 2011, job prospects have
been poor due to the collapse of housing bubbles in many parts of the world. This
sharply reduced demand for construction, forced
construction professionals
towards infrastructure construction and therefore increased the competition faced
by established and new construction engineers. This increased competition and a
core reduction in quantity demand is in parallel with a possible shift in the demand
for construction engineers due to the automation of many engineering tasks,
overall resulting in reduced prospects for construction engineers. In early 2010, the
United States construction industry had a 27% unemployment rate, this is nearly
three times higher than the 9.7%
[5]
national average unemployment rate. The
construction unemployment rate (including tradesmen) is comparable to the United
States 1933 unemployment rate—the lowest point of the
Great Depression
—of
25%.
[6]
Remuneration
The average salary for a civil engineer in the UK depends on the sector and more
specifically the level of experience of the individual. A 2010 survey of the
remuneration and benefits of those occupying jobs in
construction and the built
environment industry
[7]
showed that the average salary of a civil engineer in the UK
is £29,582. In the United States, as of May 2013, the average was $85,640.
[8]
The
average salary varies depending on experience, for example the average annual
salary for a civil engineer with between 3 and 6 years' experience is £23,813. For
those with between 14 and 20 years' experience the average is £38,214.
[9]
See also
[
Architectural engineering
Building officials
Civil engineering
Construction communication
Construction estimating software
Construction law
Construction management
Cost engineering
Cost overrun
Earthquake engineering
Engineering, procurement and construction
(EPC)
Engineering, procurement, construction and installation, (
EPCI
)
Index of construction articles
International Building Code
Military engineering
Quantity surveyor
Structural engineering
Work breakdown structure