<p>Hi,
I am a Senior in high school and I am thinking about my major. I have narrowed it down to Structural (or civil) Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. I am leaning a little more towards structural, but it is a little discouraging knowing they don't get paid as well as other types of engineers. I will probably go for my masters if I do structural (don't you need to?). What are the duties of each of these types of engineers? How many hours a week do they each work? In 2017 or 2019, what do you think the prospects for each of these jobs will be? (I know that is a hard one that no one knows). Any other input would be great!
Thanks!</p>
<p>Very hard to predict what the various engineering needs will be 4 or 5 years out. I started college in the fall of 1971 and they were laying off aerospace engineers by the handfulls. Civil was still striong so I went into that area with a specialization in civil structures. Well, they weren’t hiring in civil when I graduated, but aerospace was making a comeback. Never worked a day as a civil engineer. Got a job doing aerospace structures and that has been my career. So, you never know.</p>
<p>Do what you like the best. Enthusiasm and joy in doing your work goes a long way to being the best engineer you can be. </p>
<p>Do realize that civil engineers can work for large firms, small firms or hang their own shingle. You can also find yourself working in practically every corner of the US. Aerospace engineers tend to found in mid to large size companies as it usually takes that size firm to work the project. They are also usually concentrated in several sections of the country (SoCal, Washington state, Houston to name a few areas).</p>
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<p>It is a little discouraging at first when you look at the stats that Civil gets less. I’m a structural major right now in my Junior year and I really enjoy it. Structural gets paid the best out of civil (environmental is also very close, but chemistry, yuck) and if you go for your masters, that’s when you really get deep into the field. A 4 year degree in structures is usually considered to be basic civil, grad school is really needed to specialize. There’s just too much material to cover.</p>
<p>At A&M (where I got to school) aerospace makes very little money in comparison right out of college to other fields, even structural. From what I’ve heard you work very long hours and make small money in comparison to other types right out of school. It’s extremely difficult, but the projects you work on are awesome.</p>
<p>Do you know how much structural engineers make compared to aerospace?</p>
<p>If you had the same amount of experience of say 10 years.</p>
<p>It really depends. If you get your Professional Engineering license you can make good money in structural. It depends what type of worker you are, if you suck and make lots of mistakes, you arn’t going to make good money. Really depends on the person.</p>
<p>What kind of projects do structural engineers work on? Is it usually always buildings? Do you know how many hours a week they work compared to aerospace engineers?
Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Structural Engineers work on any type of framework. That can be buildings, airplane frameworks, car frameworks, bridges, highways or oil rigs. There’s a ton of different things structural engineers do. Any time there is a framework and a loading, structural engineers will be there. I don’t know the breakdown of hours, from the places I’ve visited, if you go into the public sector you work less hours then in the private sector.</p>