Civil Engineering Careers You Can Pursue As A Graduate

Civil engineering is a vast domain full of opportunities for professionals who have a knack for construction, building and design. While the job is physically challenging and demanding, it benefits and rewards professionals involved in the construction process. If you aspire to become a civil engineer and learn about its various career prospects, understanding what each position offers can help determine if it is a good fit for you. In this article, we discuss some high in-demand civil engineering careers along with the national average salary and the primary duties for each job role.

Civil Engineering Careers

Some civil engineering careers for graduates include:

1. Surveyor

National average salary: ₹14,828 per month

Primary duties: Surveyors conduct land and site reviews to measure land features based on various reference points, such as depth and shape. They examine data from previous land records to verify the current on-site surveys and present their findings to the designated authorities. Surveyors also draft maps and plots to create water or land boundaries regarding various aspects such as deeds, leases and other legal documents.

Related: What Is A Quantity Surveyor? A Complete Guide

2. CAD technician

National average salary: ₹15,910 per month

Primary duties: Computer-aided design (CAD) technicians develop electronic design plans for buildings and machinery using CAD software. They cooperate with building architects and professional designers to convert blueprints and technical drawings into 2D and 3D computer models. These professionals may have prior educational experience in drafting or architecture as their job requires them to review CAD models and adjust them according to the clients' design specifications.

3. Structural engineer

National average salary: ₹21,641 per month

Primary duties: Structural engineers design and build buildings, bridges, and other commercial and private structures. They also measure loads and presses to ensure that the buildings' formation and structure are secure and choose durable materials. These professionals regularly collaborate with contractors and guide construction workers on-site to track project progress and report the findings to relevant authorities.

Read More: What Is A Structural Engineer? (With Duties And Salary)

4. Urban planner

National average salary: ₹21,665 per month

Primary duties: Urban planners coordinate with public officials, developers and community members to plan land development and usage activities and initiatives. These professionals collect data and analyse market research and economic statistics to determine potential site plans or projects. They keep themselves updated on the zoning and building codes and identify areas of improvement that can benefit from changes that comply with regulations.

Read More: What Is An Urban Planner? Definition And Career Advice

5. Transport planner

National average salary: ₹59,025 per month

Primary duties: Transport planners develop transportation strategies to address the needs of various transport users, including pedestrians and cyclists. They can work in the public or private sector and analyse the existing or proposed transport schemes to test their suitability. These professionals consider environmental, efficiency and safety issues when devising potential solutions to problems such as congestion.

6. Field service engineer

National average salary: ₹14,538 per month

Primary duties: Field service engineers, also sometimes known as engineering technicians, handle equipment maintenance, schedule repairs and instal electrical or engineering products. These engineers work directly with clients who may rent, lease or own engineering products and equipment to perform their tasks. They use logic and knowledge to identify and solve problems, direct crew members on-site and conduct research.

7. Construction manager

National average salary: ₹60,766 per month

Primary duties: Construction managers plan, organise, direct, control and assess the construction activities of a company under the direction of a senior manager or general manager. They prepare cost estimates, create project budgets and work timetables. These professionals may oversee several project types, such as road and bridge construction, public, residential, commercial and other industrial structures, and collaborate with subcontractors, architects and fellow engineers to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

8. Environmental engineer

National average salary: ₹21,369 per month

Primary duties: Environmental engineers protect public health and preserve the environment by designing various pollution control equipment and devices and constructing buildings and structures using environment-friendly procedures. They prepare and review analytical reports and develop projects that solve recycling, waste disposal and water and air pollution problems. These professionals also analyse scientific data and make recommendations or direct legal actions.

9. Construction estimator

National average salary: ₹22,213 per month

Primary duties: Construction estimators analyse a project's labour, material and time requirements and estimate costs by evaluating the overall project budget. These professionals read blueprints and work with various architects and clients to prepare reports detailing all the costs and present these figures to the higher management. They also understand construction specifications and requirements and calculate the differences between the predicted and actual costs.

10. Design engineer

National average salary: ₹19,175 per month

Primary duties: Design engineers design new products and processes and develop models and drawings using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technology. They collaborate with research and development teams and alter the project specifications or devise new prototypes to ensure the projects meet the required guidelines. When designing manufacturing processes, they consider various factors such as cost-effectiveness, user experience and environmental standards and report the findings to relevant management authorities.

Read More: What Is A Design Engineer? A Comprehensive Career Guide

11. Geotechnical engineer

National average salary: ₹21,171 per month

Primary duties: Geotechnical engineers support the design and construction process by testing and analysing the risk of construction activity for humans and the environment. They explore the soil or rock condition of a proposed building or mining site to determine its stability and sustainability for construction activities. These professionals also recommend upholding a site's integrity and safety standards while mindful of cost implications.

12. Water resources engineer

National average salary: ₹37,588 per month

Primary duties: Water resources engineers advise on the sustainable use of resources by undertaking water conservation activities, building dams and designing new systems and equipment to manage water resources. These systems may include water treatment facilities, underground wells or natural springs to provide people with clean and uncontaminated water for drinking and recreational purposes. These engineers consider the costs, government regulations and other industrial factors when implementing or redesigning systems.

13. Nuclear engineer

National average salary: ₹19,814 per month

Primary duties: Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments and systems like reactor cores or radiation shielding devices that can benefit from nuclear energy and radiation. These professionals direct the operations and the maintenance of various nuclear power plants to ensure they comply with the safety standards and existing atomic laws. They also analyse nuclear accidents and recommend improving the safety and prevention strategies for future projects.

14. Planning engineer

National average salary: ₹23,965 per month

Primary duties: Planning engineers create project plans and help engineering teams deliver projects on a timely schedule to ensure the project meets the standard qualifications. These engineers set target dates and track their performance and progress through analysis and reporting. They also coordinate with other team members to direct work duties and use past and existing data to develop project strategies for future endeavours.

15. Engineering project manager

National average salary: ₹28,644 per month

Primary duties: Engineering project managers use their expertise and help plan, direct and oversee the development of new products, designs, processes or offerings for a company's existing and future projects. They lead project research and development phases, create detailed project plans, and cater to staffing and equipment needs while preparing and handling the budget requirements. They also prepare reports and documentation to support the development and execution of project strategies to meet commitments and state-planned business regulations.

16. Site engineer

National average salary: ₹18,518 per month

Primary duties: Site engineers manage different aspects of construction projects, such as supervising their team, preparing time and material cost estimates, conducting quality assurance and maintaining health and safety standards throughout the project's implementation. They also gather data, compile reports, deliver presentations to various stakeholders, and authorise technical drawings and engineering plans. They prepare work schedules and convey any changes to their crew members or clients while conducting regular training sessions and team meetings.

17. Site supervisor

National average salary: ₹15,101 per month

Primary duties: Site supervisors, also known as construction site supervisors, oversee the construction process and progress and ensure compliance with construction safety standards. They direct and monitor the performance of construction workers and subcontractors while educating the construction workers about site safety measures and practices. They also regularly evaluate employee performance and conduct site inspections to locate and eliminate potential safety hazards.

18. Fire engineer

National average salary: ₹20,800 per month

Primary duties: Fire engineers assess and implement proper fire safety elements for a construction site or building. This process involves identifying structural flaws in the location that could prevent accessible exits, emergency exit signs or smoke detection. These professionals approach a building's construction from a fire safety viewpoint, prepare action plans to tackle unforeseen circumstances and adjust the building's layout and features to maintain overall safety standards.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at the time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.