This occupation is part of the Architecture and Engineering cluster
-
Compatibility
not enough datawhy?
- x Create a Plan
- x Find Training
- x Find Job Openings
About the Job
Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures, and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.
It is also Called
- Airport Engineer
- Architectural Engineer
- Asphalt Engineer
- Base Engineer
- Bridge Design Engineer
- Bridge Engineer
- Building Construction Engineer
- Building Engineer
- Cadastral Engineer
- Cartographic Engineer
What They Do
- Manage and direct staff members and the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
- Provide technical advice regarding design, construction, or program modifications and structural repairs to industrial and managerial personnel.
- Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
- Estimate quantities and cost of materials, equipment, or labor to determine project feasibility.
- Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
- Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
- Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems and structures, following construction and government standards, using design software and drawing tools.
- Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, and other topographical or geologic data to plan projects.
- Prepare or present public reports on topics such as bid proposals, deeds, environmental impact statements, or property and right-of-way descriptions.
- Direct or participate in surveying to lay out installations or establish reference points, grades, or elevations to guide construction.
Interests
People who work in this occupation generally have the interest code: RIC.
This means people who work in this occupation generally have Realistic interests, but also prefer Investigative and Conventional environments.
Work Values
People who work in this occupation generally prize Independence, but also value Working Conditions and Achievement in their jobs.
Things They Need to Know
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Things They Need to Be Able to Do
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Additional Resources
- California Occupational Guide - A detailed guide to this occupation provided by the California Employment Development Department (EDD)
Education Required
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Wages
In 2012, the average annual wage in California was $95,750.00 with most people making between $59,570.00 and $133,970.00
Outlook
During 2010, this occupation employed approximately 37,200 people in California. It is projected that there will be 41,900 employed in 2020.
This occupation will have about 470 openings due to growth and about 760 replacement openings for approximately 1,230 total annual openings.
Common College Majors
- Find Institutions Civil Engineering, General
- Find Institutions Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
- Find Institutions Structural Engineering
- Find Institutions Transportation and Highway Engineering
- Find Institutions Water Resources Engineering
- Find Institutions Civil Engineering, Other
- Find Institutions Construction Engineering
Similar Occupations
- Logistics Engineers
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
- Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists
- Agricultural Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
- Petroleum Engineers
- Validation Engineers
People who viewed this occupation also viewed:
-
onetAerospace Engineers
-
collegeUniversity of California-Berkeley
-
collegeGeorgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
-
majorCivil Engineering, General
-
onetMechanical Engineers
-
collegeUniversity of Southern California
-
onetElectrical Engineers
-
majorMechanical Engineering
-
majorComputer Hardware Engineering
-
majorComputer Engineering, General
-
onetArchitects, Except Landscape and Naval
-
collegeCalifornia State Polytechnic University-Pomona