what is civil engineering

Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewage systems, and more. It is considered the second-oldest engineering discipline after military engineering and is defined to distinguish non-military engineering from military engineering. Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects, working in a variety of locations and conditions, commonly splitting their time between an office setting and construction sites. They are trained to solve the design, construction, and maintenance concerns of the natural and physically built environment, dealing with public works including highways, railroads, bridges, buildings, and water and energy systems. Civil engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field to enter the occupation and may need a state-issued license if they provide services directly to the public. The median annual wage for civil engineers was $89,940 in May 2022, and employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.