How to Become a Civil Engineer

Anyone considering civil engineering as a career knows it’s not all smooth roads, especially at the beginning. Yet many aspiring civil engineers aren’t sure what it actually takes to enter the field or how the licensure process works.

Do you need a civil engineering degree? Is the workload as intense as it sounds? And do most engineers stick with it long-term?

If you’re asking those questions, you’re in the right place. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to become a civil engineer, what the career path looks like, and why it’s worth pursuing. In fact, over 85% of civil engineers report being satisfied with their jobs, and over 63% are happy with their pay, making this one of the most stable and rewarding engineering fields out there.

Key Takeaways

• You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering: Preferably from an ABET-accredited program, which prepares you for licensure and aligns with industry expectations.
• Licensure is a multi-step process: To become a Professional Engineer (PE), you’ll need to pass the FE exam, get some work experience, and pass the PE exam in your specialty.
• Soft and hard skills both matter: Math, problem-solving, and organizational abilities are just as important as technical knowledge.
• Work environments vary greatly: Civil engineers split their time between offices and outdoor job sites, collaborating with diverse teams.
• Career growth and salary potential are excellent: Pay increases with experience, and the job is fulfilling and typically lifelong.

How to Become a Civil Engineer

You’ll start by getting the education and experience needed to take and pass your exams.

Bachelor’s Degree

First, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or civil engineering technology. Expect to see classes in math, physics, mechanics, and CAD software. Programs accredited by ABET meet industry standards and set you up to be a licensed engineer.

Your coursework might include:

• Math and Physics: Build your problem-solving skills during construction projects.
• Engineering Mechanics: Helps you understand how infrastructure projects behave under stress.
• Materials Science: Shows you how different building materials perform.
• CAD Tools: Get familiar with the software for designing and assessing major projects.
• Hydraulics and Hydrology: Teaches you how to manage and move water (ex, coastal engineering).

Relevant Skills

Ever heard of hard and soft skills? You need lots of both to be an engineer.

• Above Average Math Skills: You’ll rely on these for just about every design.
• Problem Solving: Designing structures can be incredibly difficult. Building locations, construction sites, a project’s economic feasibility, etc., all require serious planning.
• Organization: Organizational skills help you manage deadlines, teams, and budgets.
• Project Assessment: You’ll need to quickly spot what works/what doesn’t for civil engineering projects.

Graduate Degree

This isn’t required, but can be helpful depending on your goals. A master’s degree gives you access to more advanced roles without having to climb the ladder first. Some engineers with MS degrees specialize in designing mass transit systems, hydraulic systems, private sectors, renewable energy projects, and much more. Others go into research or teaching. Your state, city, specialization, and desired company will greatly determine what’s required from you beyond the basics.

Licensure and Certification

Now is when most start feeling a little overwhelmed. I mean, who actually wants to take an exam? Absolutely no one. The good news is: You can get through this part relatively quickly if you just graduated from college.

If it’s been some years since you got out of school, I strongly recommend taking a prep course, like those offered by the School of PE or PPI. You can’t go wrong with taking one regardless of where you are in your journey, though.

Professional Engineer (PE) License

Getting licensed takes a few steps.

• Finish an ABET-accredited Program: Your degree will determine your path.
• Pass the FE Exam: Most people take this right after college.
• Get Work Experience: You’ll need 4+ years under a licensed engineer.
• Pass the PE Exam: Covers the technical skills in your focus area.

Once you’re licensed, you can sign off on plans, lead projects, and get more civil engineering jobs. Just keep in mind that most states expect you to keep learning (you’ll want to do that anyway) and take regular continuing education courses to keep your license active.

Should You Pursue Civil Engineering?

Civil engineering is a crucial, centuries-old profession. It’s meaningful, fulfilling, and can be super fun.

Driving by a building and knowing you took part in bringing it to life is special. Roads, bridges, buildings, clean water systems—you help make them possible. You solve problems people actually notice, and that’s a big deal. But, again, getting there takes time.

But many civil engineers say it’s worth it. Salaries are great. The job outlook is strong for the foreseeable future. AND there’s room to grow.

It’s More Than a Desk Job

Hate being stuck indoors? In a lot of engineering jobs, you get a healthy mix of movement and desk jockeying.

• One day, you might be reviewing blueprints in the office.
• The next day, you’re out on a job site with steel-toed boots and a hard hat.
• You might walk through a construction zone, double-checking measurements, materials, or safety plans.
• You’ll meet architects, city planners, geologists, and project managers (people from many backgrounds) and work with them to solve big challenges.

What Makes It Interesting

Civil engineers rarely work in a vacuum. You’ll have to balance:

• Budget limits while still meeting quality and safety standards
• Environmental concerns like building roads through wetlands or keeping stormwater out of drinking supplies
• Time constraints when cities or contractors need things done fast
• Public safety—especially when you’re designing for earthquakes, floods, or heavy traffic

You won’t always get the easy projects. But that’s part of what keeps it interesting. Every challenge teaches you something new.

Where Do Civil Engineers Work?

Civil engineers perform their duties in many settings, usually shifting between office environments and outdoor construction sites. In the office, they focus on designing infrastructure like bridges, buildings, roadways, airports, and water or wastewater treatment facilities. On job sites, they manage and oversee active projects.

• According to stats recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost half (48%) of civil engineers are employed in engineering services.

• Others work for state and local governments (12% and 10%), in nonresidential building construction (6%), and with federal agencies (3%).

When working in the field, civil engineers sometimes set up temporary offices, often in trailers, to stay close to ongoing construction. The ability to move between planning, design, and hands-on site management shows just how flexible and adaptable civil engineers need to be in their day-to-day work.

Do Civil Engineers Make Great Salaries?

Payscale’s recent salary report says:

• A civil engineer starting out with under a year of experience typically earns around $65,501 in total compensation, including tips, bonuses, and overtime, based on data from 926 salaries.

• Professionals with 1–4 years of experience in the field bring in an average total pay of $72,158, according to 4,566 reported salaries.

• Those with 5–9 years of experience usually see total earnings of about $86,788, based on 2,991 salaries.

• With 10–19 years on the job, experienced civil engineers report an average total compensation of $102,410, based on 1,240 salaries.

• In late-career roles (20+ years of experience), the average total compensation climbs to $117,509.

Like other careers, you’ll typically start with a base pay and work yourself up. That’s unless you happen to get lucky/have enough connections to get an excellent job right out of the gate.

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