<p>Hey there, I am currently a first year in college, and I'm currently a Computer Science and Engineering major at UCLA. But I'm not sure if I really want to stick with it.</p>
<p>I am conflicted between choosing Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering. I'm interested in all three subjects, so I can't really choose what I like most. But if I really had to pick, I am mostly leaning toward Civil and Aerospace.</p>
<p>But I heard that the Computer Science field has good job security, but what about Aerospace and Civil Engineering? When I grow up, I'd want to live in San Francisco or New York. If not, then staying in Los Angeles is fine. Where exactly are there a lot of job opportunities with an Aerospace Engineering major? </p>
<p>Money isn't the biggest concern to me, but I heard Civil Engineering is the lowest paid engineering major, and it's kind of discouraging. Is it true, and if so, is it really significant compared to the other two majors? And do most engineers usually end up moving up by getting an MBA?</p>
<p>“But if I really had to pick, I am mostly leaning toward Civil and Aerospace.”</p>
<p>There’s your answer. Civil Engineering is not significantly lower than the other two majors but it is the lowest paid engineering major (still high compared to other majors). You will also never have a problem finding a job with civil engineering now-a-days</p>
<p>Aerospace jobs tend to be concentrated in Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. There are several other places that also have Aerospace jobs, but not quite as many such as St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver and various places in Florida and Alabama.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>So there aren’t a lot of jobs for Aerospace near New York or San Francisco. Anyone know about Civil Engineering and CSE?</p></li>
<li><p>So what percentage of such engineers enter the workforce, or pursue an MBA or PhD?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>There are civil engineering jobs EVERYWHERE. Anywhere buildings are made or there is a coast or there is a river or there is a bridge or there are people (and sometimes even when there are no people) there will be civil engineering jobs to be done.</p>
<p>And you are correct, there are virtually no Aerospace jobs in New York. The closest I can think of is that Boeing has a fairly large presence in Philadelphia.</p>
<p>I don’t know about aerospace too much, but as mentioned above, I’d imagine Los Angeles as having one of the largest aerospace industries…Northrop grumman, raytheon, boeing, lockheed, all have offices in that area, particularly in proximity to LAX.</p>
<p>For civil engineering, as mentioned above, jobs are abundant everywhere. In particular though, living in one of the major coastal cities such as SF, LA, or NYC are definitely good bets. Some of the mid-sized prestigious structural engineering firms only hold offices in these global cities. At least that’s the impression I get…correct me if im wrong</p>
<p>Also, I know civil engineering is one of the lowest paying jobs of the engineering disciplines — but I believe structural engineers (a subset of civil engineers) get paid a bit more? does anyone have any info about this?</p>
<p>Yes, structural engineers get paid a bit more.</p>
<p>Jobs are not abundant everywhere right now. In general, there’s job security, but this economy has really hit the construction industry hard. You’ve got a while to go before you have to worry about this, though… It’ll likely turn around before you graduate. But don’t presume that you can just walk out of school and pick up a job with no trouble were you to graduate today, and internships may be a little tough to come by.</p>
<p>A couple of my aero offers were actually lower than my structural design offers.</p>
<p>How much is the typical pay for structural engineers, as compared to other civil engineers? What’s the difference between the construction industry and structural? I get the impression that it’s the same thing. And is the ‘structural industry’ as bad as construction?</p>
<p>Typical pay for structural engineers is about 10-15% more than for civil engineers… At least, in my experience. YMMV. It’s been pointed out to me in the past that I’m not entirely typical… There are about thirty of us in my group who’ve designed 80% of the retractable-roof stadiums built in the past twenty years, so I’m a bit of an outlier and my view may be slightly skewed… (Don’t be mistaken, though-- I’m not rich, just vocationally fulfilled. ;))</p>
<p>Structural engineering (specifically, building and bridge design, because while most structural engineers design buildings and bridges, structural engineers can get jobs in a lot of different fields, too) is a subset of the larger construction industry. “Industry” just means the commerce umbrella under which a bunch of disciplines fall. So, you’ve got things like the healthcare industry, the construction industry, the banking industry, etc.</p>
<p>So since the “structural discipline” (wouldn’t really define it as an entire industry) is a subcategory of the “construction industry” in most cases, it’s taken a pretty big kick in the side with the current economic situation. I’ve had to take on a lot more civil engineering work (site development, due diligence, etc.) to avoid being laid off.</p>
<p>You don’t happen to need a retractable-roof stadium, do you?</p>
<p>We’re finding our structural engineering consulting work is still holding up. Of course, it helps to be a two-person firm! I just met with our accountant, and he said we’re doing a good bit better this year than last! Go figure. DH has built up a really good reputation over the past 20 years, so I think that helps him find work easier than some other engineer, so his designs tend to be practical and fairly easy to build - architects and builders like to work with him.</p>
<p>Oh dang, that’s depressing to hear… Would it be wise for a person like me still in my early college years to pursue a career in the construction industry? Will the situation likely turn around, or is it likely to get worse?</p>
<p>Sorry for the load of questions, but I’m also curious about one more thing:
How is the work environment for a structural engineer? Do you work in an office, outside, get dirty, travel a lot? And do you work/socialize with other engineers on projects, or is most of it working alone?</p>
Hopefully, it will turn around in 5 years or so. However, even if not, learn mandarin. I read an article from ENR saying that China construction industry will surpass US by 2020. ><</p>
<p>
Our structural guys design digesters, tanks, primary batteries and misc facilities (warehouse, office building, etc) for treatment plants. Outside of treatment plants they design huge 11’ dia sewers w/ eccentric shapes (semi elliptical, egg shape etc, rect box) , pumping stations etc. They work in the office most of the time and they work with other engineers (ME, EE, GE, CE, ChemE)…</p>
<p>You’ll be fine if you’re in your early college years, but you might have a little trouble finding internships in the next year or so. Things should turn around in 2010, we’re told.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Most of my travel is regional. I work in an office (a really nice one… our clients are architects and having a gorgeous office is a great marketing tool). If I’m doing construction administration (one person per major project is left behind when design is done to make sure that things are built according to our design) then I’m outside a lot. You can pick your work environment, to a certain degree… There will be some office work for all structural engineers, doing calcs and writing reports, but some are outside more than others. And yeah, you typically work on a team, either of other engineers, or of other designers (architects, mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineers, site development engineers, landscape architects, etc.) if you’re a project manager or if you work on smaller projects. You typically don’t work alone all the time, though you do have to be able to work independently.</p>
<p>Long term, it’s probably one of the safest industries. America isn’t going to stop building all of a sudden and let everything deteriorate. It won’t go the route of the automobile industry and just have everything made overseas and shipped over here. This is just a bump in the road (albeit a very large bump). Three years from now, things may be very different, just like things were very very different three years ago. </p>
<p>
You won’t find any aerospace jobs in NYC, but you will find plenty of jobs in the construction industry (in an okay economy).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I need one in my backyard. How much will a crisp Andrew Jackson get me?</p>
<p>Hmm, thanks for all the insights everyone, especially you aibarr. I think I might consider Civil (Structural) Engineering.</p>
<p>I know this is a stupid question, but do structural engineers have to dress up to work? Or is it like a blue-collar job, and you wear construction clothes? Just wondering, because I want to dress nice when I go to work. :)</p>