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What They Do
About This Career
Applies theory and principles of civil engineering in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of structures and facilities under the direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster Design/Pre-Construction pathway.
A person in this career:
- Calculates dimensions, square footage, profile and component specifications, and material quantities, using calculator or computer.
- Reads and reviews project blueprints and structural specifications to determine dimensions of structure or system and material requirements.
- Drafts detailed dimensional drawings and designs layouts for projects to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Confers with supervisor to determine project details such as plan preparation, acceptance testing, and evaluation of field conditions.
- Analyzes proposed site factors and designs maps, graphs, tracings, and diagrams to illustrate findings.
- Prepares reports and documents project activities and data.
- Reports maintenance problems occurring at project site to supervisor and negotiates changes to resolve system conflicts.
- Inspects project site and evaluates contractor work to detect design malfunctions and ensures conformance to design specifications and applicable codes.
- Conducts materials test and analysis, using tools and equipment and applying engineering knowledge.
- Develops plans and estimates costs for installation of systems, utilization of facilities, or construction of structures.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
- Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
- Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Seeing clearly at a distance
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
Work Hours and Travel
- Regular working hours and limited travel
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Civil Designer
- Civil Engineering Assistant
- Design Technician
- Engineer Technician
- Engineering Assistant
- Engineering Technician — Solves technical application oriented problems, for example the technician makes sure things, such as circuits or transportation systems, work.
- Transportation Engineering Technician
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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