1. Civil Engineer
Ethan Painter

2. Overview
In my future years, I would like to pursue the career of a civil engineer. When walking by enormous buildings or just neighborhood houses, I have always wondered how the structures were built. I like the civil engineer career because I like to construct different things. It amazes me that people can build breathtaking buildings that we see in our cities today. Other projects in this field include Aerospace Engineer, Agricultural Engineer, Architect, Building Inspector, Chemical Engineer, and many more. I am attracted to this career because I would like to learn about structural design, and how things are built and to make sure other important structures are safe and efficient.

3. Job description
I would like to explore the civil engineer career. I excel at math, so I think I will be well suited for a civil engineer job. They deal with plethora amounts of numbers, and I think that I would like it. Today civil engineers are responsible for planning, designing, and constructing a wide variety of structures, including buildings, bridges, dams, highways, railways, and sewers. There job is to take complex mathematical or scientific concepts and apply them in a practical way. They make sure that all of the structures in our cities and towns to day are as safe and efficient as they can be. There are also common tasks they partake in. These tasks include studying conditions at project sites, estimating the quantity and cost of materials and equipment needed for a project, and supervising construction workers at building sites. Maxwell-Reddick and Associates, Inc. is an example of a company that specializes in civil engineering .

4. Training and/or educational requirements
Civil Engineering requires a four - year college. Civil engineers must have at least a bachelors degree in the civil engineering field, or a closely related field. A masters degree or a PhD can help your chances of getting a job. Employers strongly recommend that students gain as much experience as possible in high school and college, through internships, and summer jobs. Some colleges offer co-op programs, which allow students to gain work experience they are still in school. High school students interested in pursuing a career in civil engineering should take courses in math, science, computer science, and English. A civil engineer must be licensed by a state engineering licensure board as a Professional Engineer. Civil engineering training takes about four years.

5. Job market
When you take a look around a city, you will see the work of civil engineers everywhere. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects percent employment growth for civil engineers between 2012 and During that time period, about 53,700 jobs will need to be filled. The outlook for civil engineering led this job to claim the number 18 spot on the 2014 list of Best Jobs. Civil engineers are mainly found in the United States, but you can found them all around the world.

6. Advantages and Disadvantages
They spend much of their time in offices doing difficult math calculations, writing reports, reading blueprints, working on computers, and making phone calls. Unlike many other professionals, however, they also spend a lot of time outside, doing on-site inspections and watching over the construction process. Local travel is often required. I like math, so I think that I would like the job. Civil engineers work between 8 and 10 hours a day, 40 to 50 hours a week. However, they may have to work nights and weekends if an important project is approaching, or if a construction problem arises. The pressure of balancing multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and staying on budget can be stressful.

7. Salary opportunities
Starting salaries for civil engineers is around $52,000. The median annual salary is about $79,000. Experienced engineers who have been working in the field for a long time, earn about $122,000 a year. Over years of working in the field, engineers slowly gain more money from years of service, The more you have worked, the more money you make.

8. Advancement opportunities
As an engineer advances through there career, they will make more money and will learn new things about there field. After a few years of on-the-job experience, a civil engineer will normally specialize in a single area of the field. Someone who chooses structural engineering will learn a great deal about steel, timber, and concrete, and take part in the design and construction of bridges, high-rises, power plants, and factories. A transportation engineer, on the other hand, will focus on roads, railways, harbors, and airports.

9. Benefits offered
Many full-time civil engineers receive benefits, such as health insurance, paid sick leave and vacation time, and pension plans. Exact benefits vary on the employer. Some engineers also receive performance- based bonuses that can increase their annual income.

10. Conclusion
After all of the research I would still want to pursue the career of a civil engineer. I love math, and a civil engineer does a myriad of calculations and measurements on construction sites, so I think I would fit in very well. Also, I like the career because it pays good. I feel like I could build a life off of being a civil engineer. In addition, my parents want me to pursue this career because they feel that I would be a good engineer.