Introduction
Do you find yourself admiring tall buildings and state-of-the-art bridges or suspended structures such as The Edge in New York? Have you ever wondered why the Eiffel Tower, despite years of being exposed to different weathers, has yet to collapse? Chances are, your interests are leaning heavily towards structural engineering. The demand for sustainable yet aesthetically constructed structures is on the rise. While architects are experts in creating designs, structural engineers are the reasons why such buildings exist.
Having a love for the discipline is good, but the big questions remain. What is structural engineering? What does a structural engineer do? How do you become a structural engineer? Is starting a career in structural engineering financially advisable? How do you start a career in structural engineering? Keep reading to get answers to all these questions.
Structural Engineering and structural engineers: What are they?
Structural engineering as a discipline deals with designing man-made structures. From learning about the durability of building and non-building materials used in construction to how realistic building designs are, structural engineers consider all these factors before and during the construction process. Structural engineering is the reason why the Statue of Liberty remains standing to this day.
A structural engineer is someone involved in the process of designing sustainable and sturdy structures. Structural engineers can build beautiful structures such as awe-inspiring buildings, extravagant bridges like the Ruyi Bridge, or Ferris wheels in amusement parks. While keeping in mind the need for these structures to be visually appealing, structural engineers place safety and longevity on planes of equal importance.
Now that you understand what structural engineering is, let us consider the differences between civil and structural engineering.
Difference between Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering
Civil and structural engineering have been mistaken for one another many times. But the disciplines differ. If you were wondering, here are the key differences between civil and structural engineering:
| Civil Engineering | Structural Engineering |
| Offers more depth and various project opportunities | Focused on projects such as constructing buildings and world-class bridges |
| In charge of the initial design and planning of structures | Capable of rejecting or accepting designs |
| Concerned with maintaining man-made and natural environments | Structural engineering is a subdiscipline of civil engineering |
Why You Should Choose A Career in Structural Engineering
The decision of whether you should choose a career in structural engineering or not can be influenced by a large number of reasons. But, if you’re unsure, here are a few reasons why structural engineering is a good career choice:
High Demand for Structural Engineers
Ira Immigration said that there is an increasing demand for structural engineers in many countries. In countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and China, they noted a higher demand for structural engineers. The construction industry was billed at $12.74 as of 2023, with a 74% shortage of workers.
Competitive Salary
Structural engineers play a vital role in the construction processes of building construction, and this is reflected in their earrings. While factors such as contract terms, education, experience, and location can influence the amount you earn as a structural engineer, Indeed Salaries averaged the pay for a structural engineer in the U.S. at approximately $110,110 yearly.
Large-scale Project Opportunity
World-class structures are not constructed daily. However, should you choose a career in structural engineering, you stand the chance of working on large-scale projects such as the Gulf Railway project, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the MSG Sphere, and the South-North Water Transfer Project.
Innovation and specialization
The world is experiencing a change. Research conducted by the United Nations revealed that the construction sector produces over 30% of the world’s carbon levels. With a demand for sustainable structures that don’t help reduce CO2 levels worldwide, the construction industry will continue to experience innovation to meet this demand. Additionally, in the same way, writers have the option of choosing specific genres they work on, a career in structural engineering gives you the freedom to choose the types of projects you wish to work on.
By now, your concerns about job demand and security, earnings, the possibility of working on large-scale projects as a structural engineer, and the move towards reducing CO² levels worldwide should have been answered.
Educational Route to Becoming a Structural Engineer
Building a career in structural engineering is not easy, however it is worth the stress involved. There are step-by-step guides involved in this process, and they have been highlighted below:
- Highschool Focus
If you are still in high school at the time of reading this, you get to know the necessary preparations before university. Subjects such as mathematics, physics AND TECHNICAL DRAWING should be treated with high importance since structural engineering uses these two a lot for calculations. Computer studies and the country’s Lingua Franca are to be given importance too. Science fairs and STEM club activities that are related to construction can be of great help.
- Bachelor’s Degree
Contrary to the ongoing trend, college degrees are not old school. You might have been made to believe that university degrees no longer matter but this is not true. Jibs requiring a Bachelor’s degree are increasing and it is expected that 72% of job openings will require a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. Besides, it is impossible to become a certified structural engineer and enjoy all the benefits the career has to offer without a Bachelor’s degree. Outside the U.S., finding a college that offers structural engineering as a course is rare. Nonetheless, as long as you earn a Bachelor’s in civil engineering or a related course such as architectural design, you can progress into the world of structural engineering.
- Advanced degrees and specialization
After completing your Bachelor’s degree, you have the option of entering the workforce or you can aim for higher levels of education. Degrees such as a Master’s can be highly influential as you are equipped with more knowledge and practice in construction and structural engineering.
Skills You Need to Become a Structural Engineer
Structural engineering careers typically require skills that span a wide range, and if you’re considering a career, you must possess soft and technical skills in your field.
Soft Skills
- Communication: As you will be the go-to for whether a building plan is good to go or not, you need to be able to communicate your opinion clearly and efficiently. This saves your reputation and cements your position as an expert in your field while at the same time saving your clients and the community from wastefulness.
- Collaboration and Leadership: Structural engineers rarely work alone. They collaborate with architects and MEP engineers, among others to make projects a success. For you to succeed as a structural engineer, you need to have collaboration skills and leadership skills which will be essential during the entire process.
- Project Management and Documentation: A lot of moving parts are involved in the construction of structures, especially if these constrictions are worth more than a few hundred million. To make sure that all aspects, including finances, manpower, and involved stakeholders, are accounted for and involved in the processes concerning them, the ability to document and manage projects is essential.
Photo by Jo Szczepanska on Unsplash
Technical Skills
While the soft skills of a structural engineer are important, the technical skills are the backbone of your being allowed to work as an engineer. There are a wide variety of skills but the major ones you need to master are:
- Software proficiency: Software like AutoCAD, ETABS, Revit, SAP2000, and STAAD.Pro are widely used in the structural engineering world. As such, you must understand how they work and be proficient in their usage for your success as a structural engineer.
Image by Goodwin Recruiting
- Material and structural integrity: What do you call a structural engineer who has no idea about the pros and cons of specific materials used in construction? A fake. To avoid being labelled one, you should make sure your knowledge of materials and structural integrity is robust, as it will be influential in the real world.
- Construction techniques: There are different construction techniques and they have their unique uses. Understanding which construction technique is useful for which project will be instrumental in improving your job security, and increase your chances of collaboration with top-rated structural engineers and construction companies.
Gaining Hands-on Experience As A Structural Engineer
When starting a career in structural engineering, previous experience is highly valued as it shows your expertise in the field. However, as a recent college graduate, possessing the necessary skills for the position makes it nearly impossible. To mitigate against this, gaining hands-on experience is crucial.
There are many ways for you to attain practical knowledge of structural engineering. They include:
- School projects completed singularly or with coursemates
- Internship opportunities during and/or after college education
- Applying to entry-level roles
- Mentorship by people into construction
- Modelling real-life projects in small-scale versions
By gathering experience as a structural engineer, you boost your credibility, strengthen your portfolio and make yourself job-ready once the opportunity arises.
License and Certifications
While experience is important for your career as a structural engineer, it is nearly useless if you cannot gain certification and licenses from government bodies. There are two licenses, both of which are issued by different bodies. They are the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) certification and the Principles of Engineering (PE) license.
- Fundamentals of Engineering License
The FE certification exam is an exam that rates your understanding of everything learned during your time as an engineering student. While some countries require that you complete a BSC course ahead, others allow you to take the FE exam before graduation. Upon passing the exam, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) will then issue an Engineer-In-Training certificate. The certificate issued looks like the image attached below.
- Professional Engineer Certificate
While this is mandatory, gaining a Professional of Engineering Certificate is necessary if you are interested in working in the public sector and collaborating on government-issued projects. To be awarded this certificate, four steps have to be taken:
- Complete your Bachelor’s degree as a structural or civil engineer. It must be from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
- Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and get an Engineer-In-Training Certificate
- Work under a certified PE for about 4 years
- Take the PE exam.
After completing all four steps, your certificate as a Professional Engineer will be issued to you.
Conclusion
The world of structural engineering is increasing, with newer concepts and construction requirements arising. Remember that while it might seem like a stretch to become a structural engineer, it is financially and socially worth it.