Best Careers: Civil Engineer

The rundown:

Civil engineers build and manage the infrastructure that allows society to function. There are at least a dozen specialties in this vital field, so you could end up working on buildings, roads, bridges, water-treatment plants, pipelines, hazardous-waste facilities, reservoirs, tunnels, airports, power plants, and many other cogs of civilization that people tend to take for granted. Many civil engineers work for state or local governments, helping plan and maintain communities and dealing directly with local residents. In the private sector, civil engineers work for construction and architectural firms, utilities, and big companies with a portfolio of buildings to manage. With a vast array of jobs, your duties might entail traffic concerns on residential streets, wetlands management, or huge construction projects like skyscrapers or stadiums. Jobs tend to be stable, since infrastructure isn't optional, and hot fields like environmental engineering provide plenty of new opportunities.

[See a list of The 50 Best Careers.]

The outlook:

The Labor Department predicts that job growth for civil engineers will be about 24 percent over the next decade or so—well above average. That's about 68,000 new jobs. America has a mature infrastructure, but it is, by many accounts, in dire need of repair, which will prime demand for civil engineers. And overall population growth will continue to generate the steady expansion of existing communities and the development of new ones.

Money:

The median annual earnings for civil engineers was $76,590 in 2009. The top 10 percent of engineers earned more than $118,000, while the lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $50,000.

Upward mobility:

If you love working in the field with the hard hats, you can do that as long as like. But as you gain experience, there will also be opportunities to manage complex projects or important divisions, solicit new business for your company, become a deal maker, and even start your own firm.

Activity level:

Varies. Government work has predictable hours, and who knows, maybe you'll even run for office someday—voters like can-do officials who fix the potholes. In the private sector, construction work tends to follow blue-collar hours—typically 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.—with some extra hours for paperwork thrown in. Working for a wheeling-and-dealing commercial real estate firm could entail longer hours, travel, evening schmoozing, and a fat paycheck.

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Stress level:

Moderate. Since construction projects are generally long term, there aren't that many daily deadlines or all-nighters. The stress comes when projects run late or over budget. Government work can be staid, unless budgets get cut and you need to figure out how to provide the same civic services for less.

Education and preparation:

Entry-level jobs require a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Many employers also insist that you pass a standardized professional exam and get licensed. Technical projects and management responsibility often require a master's degree, and teaching requires a Ph.D.

[Find online degree programs in engineering.]

Real advice from real people about landing a job as a civil engineer:

Internships, networking, and finding a mentor can significantly improve your job prospects. "When I hire staff, I always look for people who are enthusiastic, who can work in teams as well as work independently, and who have good problem solving skills." —Jennifer Epp, water resources control engineer at the Central Coast Water Board.

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