What does a civil engineer do?
“What is a civil engineer?” you ask, well put simply civil engineering involves designing, constructing and maintaining infrastructure. A civil engineer might work on iconic buildings or bridges, like the Sydney Opera House or the Golden Gate Bridge. Perhaps more commonly though, civil engineering involves continuously improving and maintaining society’s infrastructure. During your civil engineering career, you will work on projects that adapt structures like bridges, roads, railways, or waste management systems, to accommodate for factors such as population growth, climate change, or natural disasters.
Once you’ve become a civil engineer, you might then choose to work as either a consultant or a contractor. Consultants typically focus on design and work from an office, whereas contractors are normally based on-site to monitor civil construction work.
Is a career as a civil engineer right for me?
If you’re interested in construction and enjoy solving complex problems, you might like a civil engineering career. It’s also helpful to have skills and attributes including:
- good oral and written communication skills
- an aptitude for computing and design
- practical and creative qualities
- the ability to work as part of a team and independently
- decisiveness
- the ability to follow instructions.
How to become a civil engineer
You typically need an engineering bachelor degree with a major in civil engineering. Pursuing a postgraduate qualification, such as a masters, can further assist with your civil engineering career progression and open doors to more advanced opportunities within the field.
In addition to your degree, a minimum of four years of work experience as an engineer is required to gain a chartered status as a professional engineer.
Every journey to study is individual and there are several paths to reaching your civil engineering career goals. At UniSQ, we offer the following degrees in the area of civil engineering:
Average salary per week
$1979
Future demand
Very Strong
Industries
Related careers
Source: yourcareer.gov.au
© Commonwealth of Australia
Last updated May 2024.
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Civil engineer FAQs
What is the average civil engineer salary?
The average civil engineer salary in Australia can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, and the specific sector in which you work. Civil engineers with specialised skills or those working on large-scale projects may earn higher salaries. Please see the salary information on this page for further details.
Is civil engineering in demand in Australia?
Civil engineering is in very strong demand in Australia. The need for skilled civil engineers is driven by ongoing infrastructure development, urban planning, and construction projects across the country. Beyond Australia, other countries in demand for civil engineers include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and various nations in the Middle East.
How long does it take to become a civil engineer?
The time it takes to complete a civil engineering course can vary depending on your previous education, the training requirements of specific fields, and employment opportunities.
Generally speaking, a bachelor degree with a civil engineering major usually takes around four years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. To gain a professional licence, you will also need a minimum of four years of work experience following your degree.
At UniSQ, there are multiple pathways you can take to set yourself up for a successful civil engineering career. Explore the various degree paths available at UniSQ to become a civil engineer.
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