Highway Engineer Job Description
Highway engineering is broken down into several other specialties or concentrations including structural, environmental and construction. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), civil engineers made up about 278,400 jobs in 2008.
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Definition
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A highway engineer, properly known as a civil engineer, designs highways, bridges and roads, providing a pathway for transportation to and from destinations. Some civil engineers work as overseers of other engineers to ensure the construction and designs to make sure all projects are carried out properly.
Education
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In most, if not all cases, a college degree in engineering is needed to be a highway engineer. Obtaining a degree in engineering is the best possible way to get an engineering job, though mathematics and science majors may also compete in this career choice. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a license to be a civil engineer must be obtained after four years of work experience and passing a test.
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Considerations
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A person interested in this particular career choice should consider the number of hours and time dedicated to the job. Other considerations to include are bad weather, which could play a part in the engineer's design and the due date of the project, and the travel that may be required for the job.
Salary
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According to the BLS as of May 2008, the average earnings for a civil engineer is approximately $78,560 annually. The starting salary of a person with a degree in civil engineering is about $52,000.
Future
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The future for highway engineer is expected to increase through 2018 because there will be a need for more engineers to design and construct things to fit the population growth. Also, over the years roads and highways will wear out and become unsafe, which is another reason civil engineers will be on demand.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit highway image by Ekaterina Sidorenko from Fotolia.com
