Role Description

Engineering > Structural Engineer

Salary National Average

Low Medium High
79440.0000 90800.0000 113510.0000

Change from Previous Year:

+5%

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Candidate Supply: 624 Job Openings: 49,066

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Short Description:

Structural engineers design and create infrastructure projects such as pipelines, bridges, and other mechanical structures. People in this position supervise other engineers and construction crews on a regular basis. Structural engineers are supervised by the chief civil structural engineer assigned to a project, and usually find work with chemical plants, refineries, and utility plants.

Duties / Responsibilities:

  • Analyze Maps, Blueprints, and Charts - Structural engineers look at detailed charts and schematics on a regular basis to determine the best way to build new projects and repair existing infrastructure systems.
  • Design Project Plans - Structural engineers create new design plans for brand-new infrastructure systems, as well as creating plans to repair existing buildings, bridges, and other structures.
  • Write Reports and Estimates - Structural engineers write detailed project reports and cost estimates for proposed building and repair projects that show detailed timetable, material, and construction data.
  • Oversee Construction Sites - The structural engineer is responsible for hiring and managing construction staff, which requires frequent check-ins at building project sites.
  • Hire Engineering Staff - Structural engineers may need to hire other engineering professionals for large-scale building and repair projects, which requires acting as a supervisor to keep projects moving ahead on schedule

Skills / Requirements / Qualifications

  • Detail-oriented – being a structural engineer means juggling several tasks at once, including managing staff
  • Experience with structural materials – structural engineers must have a strong grasp of the abilities of structural steel and concrete, and be familiar with working with these foundational materials and the mathematical formulas used to calculate how much of these materials are needed
  • Seismic design knowledge – building a strong, safe structure requires a good knowledge of seismic design to create infrastructure that can withstand the test of nature.
  • Communication - structural engineers supervise others and relay complex information
  • Physical strength – certain physical capabilities are required of structural engineers because of the environments where they work; people in this profession must be able to lift at least 50 pounds of weight without strain
  • Fearlessness – structural engineers have to squeeze into tight places, climb underground, and go on top of tall structures on a regular basis, so people who have a fear of heights and/or of being in confined spaces aren’t ideally suited to this career

Job Zones

  • Title: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
  • Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Related Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
  • Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
  • Job Zone Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
  • SVP Range: (7.0 to < 8.0)

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