Fresh Profile: Structural Engineering Jobs

Published on 2008-04-28

In a world full of skyscrapers, bridges, buildings and roads, it is absolutely vital that the physical structures we rely on to conduct our lives efficiently every day be designed to withstand the most extreme conditions. Through the implementation of effective building codes designed to lend an extended lifespan to critical infrastructure, structural engineers are the individuals who protect these key elements in our daily lives. If you can get a good structural engineer to build it, it's going to be built to last. These highly specialized civil engineers tend to find jobs working on large projects dealing with important infrastructure. Dams, stadiums, towers and roads are all built with the help of a team of structural engineers. These engineering professionals must develop an ability to accurately analyze stress points, predict likely pressure trends and scrutinize weight distribution in a variety of situations across large structures. How is the weight of snow in winter going to affect the structure 20 years from now? Is it stiff enough to survive some minimal standard of seismic event? How is fire going to affect it? How much is it going to cost to maintain over its expected lifetime of service? How many people are going to use it and how will they use it? All these questions must be asked and thoroughly answered by structural engineers.

There is much specialization within the field of structural engineering. Most engineering jobs in the field will tend to concentrate on one type of large construction. Bridge builders will work on bridges, while tunnel makers will build tunnels, etc. In addition to large infrastructure, structural engineers can specialize in the construction of large vessels such as satellites, ships, or airplanes. But it doesn't always have to be new projects. In the interests of historic preservation, some job opportunities might require the reinforcement of an edifice that is collapsing or subsiding. Structural engineers can recommend improvements to extend the structure's usable life or methods to conserve the structure for the use of future generations. In general, structural engineers will focus either on the construction process itself or the design of projects including the use of materials, function and architecture. Jobs in the field of structural engineering offer an individual the opportunity to test his or her skills against the elements in very concrete ways; the very worst ravages of fire and wind, rain and floods, heat and cold are taken into account and planned for.

Candidates interested in pursuing a career in structural engineering will often obtain a 4-year degree in mechanical, electrical, aerospace or civil engineering. Jobs in the field often require a master's degree specializing in structural engineering as well as a lengthy internship. Due to the sensitive nature and generally large scale of the projects, there are a series of rigorous licensing exams that must be passed in order to gain and maintain licensure. Some challenges that face an aspiring structural engineer are the long hours, competition from qualified English-speaking engineers abroad, and the need to move from time to time for job-related reasons.

The need for civil engineers and, more specifically, the need for structural engineers is expected to grow strongly in the near future due to new and unforeseen demand on aging infrastructure throughout the United States. Engineering jobs for graduates are very much available and structural engineering is one of the civil engineering field's most popular specializations. The median annual salary for a structural engineer is between $70,000 and $75,000, although this varies greatly depending on location, education, specialization and the demands of the project.