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Civil Engineer

Building the infrastructure that connects communities and shapes the future.

$95,890 Median wage+6% (Faster than average)Best Ikigai types for this career: The Builder

What a Civil Engineer does

Day-to-day responsibilities and the work itself.

  • Analyze site conditions and soil data to determine foundation requirements and structural feasibility for proposed infrastructure projects.
  • Design roadways, bridges, water systems, and buildings using CAD software and engineering principles, ensuring compliance with local codes and safety standards.
  • Prepare detailed cost estimates, project timelines, and resource requirements to establish realistic budgets and schedules for construction phases.
  • Conduct field inspections during construction to verify that work meets design specifications, material quality standards, and contractual requirements.
  • Collaborate with architects, contractors, environmental specialists, and municipal officials to resolve design conflicts and adapt plans to changing project conditions.

Best Ikigai types for this career

Personality profiles whose strengths align with Civil Engineer.

Pillar profile for this career

How Civil Engineer draws on the four Ikigai pillars.

Passion
65
Mission
70
Vocation
90
Profession
80

Salary detail

Median wage

$95,890

USD/yr

Range (10th–90th percentile)

$61,420$144,560

10th–90th percentile

10-year growth

+6%

Faster than average

US employment (2023)

343,500

SOC 17-2051

Source: BLS OEWS May 2023; EP 2023–2033

Key skills

CAD designStructural analysisProject managementProblem-solvingTechnical communication

Typical education

Bachelor's degree

A day in the life

My morning starts at my desk reviewing overnight emails about a bridge renovation project—the contractor flagged a foundation issue that needs immediate assessment. I pull up the structural drawings, cross-reference soil reports, and schedule a site visit for midday. The office hums with quiet focus; my colleague is stress-testing a stormwater model while the intern finalizes permit documentation. By mid-morning, I'm driving to the construction site, boots and hard hat in hand, walking the footings and photographing measurements. Back at the office, I sketch quick revisions to the design, then join a video call with the city engineer to discuss timeline implications. Late afternoon means updating specifications and emailing revised drawings to the contractor. There's satisfaction in this—seeing abstract plans become tangible structures that will last decades, knowing my calculations keep people safe.

Is this your ikigai?

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