What is Civil Engineering? (A Complete Guide)

1. What is civil engineering?
2. What does a civil engineer do?
3. How to become a civil engineer?
4. Why build a career in Civil Engineering?
5. Civil Engineering Jobs In India
6. Civil Engineering Job Roles
7. What is a civil engineer's salary?
8. What are the important civil engineer skills?
9. Pros & Cons of Civil Engineering Career

Wondering "What is civil engineering?"

Civil engineering is the backbone of modern society, creating everything we rely on daily.

Curious about what does a civil engineer do? or what is a civil engineer salary? You're not alone!

Whether you're considering this rewarding career path or simply want to understand the profession that shapes our world, civil engineering offers both meaningful work and competitive compensation for those willing to master its challenges.

What is civil engineering?

Civil engineering is the branch of engineering that designs, constructs, and maintains the physical and naturally built environment. This includes roads, bridges, canals, dams, buildings, airports, water systems, and sewage networks.

Civil engineers apply scientific knowledge, mathematics, and engineering principles to develop infrastructure that supports modern civilization while ensuring safety, sustainability, and efficiency for the public good.

What does a civil engineer do?

Civil engineers play a crucial role in developing and maintaining infrastructure. Their primary responsibilities include:

Design and Planning

• Create detailed plans and designs for structures like buildings, roads, bridges, dams, and water systems
• Use computer-aided design (CAD) software and other specialized tools
• Conduct feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments
• Calculate loads, stresses, and other technical specifications

Project Management

• Supervise construction projects from conception to completion
• Coordinate with architects, contractors, and other engineers
• Manage budgets, schedules, and resources
• Ensure compliance with project specifications

Technical Problem-Solving

Analyze complex engineering challenges
Develop innovative solutions for structural, geotechnical, or environmental issues
Troubleshoot problems during construction or maintenance

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure designs meet building codes and safety regulations
• Obtain necessary permits and approvals
• Adhere to environmental protection standards

Safety and Quality Assurance

• Conduct safety inspections
• Test materials and structural integrity
• Implement quality control procedures

Sustainability

• Incorporate sustainable design principles
• Minimize environmental impact
• Design for energy efficiency and resource conservation

Civil engineers often specialize in areas such as structural engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, or construction management.

How to become a civil engineer?

Apart from being a problem solver with a technical bent of mind, an individual needs to have specific qualifications before he/she starts their civil engineering career. Here are the qualifications required to become a civil engineer.

Secondary Education (10th Standard)

Complete secondary education with good grades in Mathematics, Science, and English. Aim for at least 60% marks overall, with strength in Mathematics and Physics.

Higher Secondary Education (11th-12th Standard)

The individual should have passed Physics, Chemistry & Maths to apply for admissions in engineering courses in any college. State & National Level entrance exams such as IIT, JEE, NEET & so on.

Undergraduate Degree (4 years)

Option 1: Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Civil Engineering Pursue admission through JEE Main & Advanced for IITs, through JEE Main for NITs and other government colleges, through state-level engineering entrance exams (e.g., WBJEE, KCET), or through management quota in private colleges.

Option 2: Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Civil Engineering Similar to B.Tech but offered by different universities. The curriculum might vary slightly but covers the same core concepts.

Postgraduate Studies (2-3 years)

Option 1: Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Civil Engineering Gain admission through GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering). Specialization options include Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Water Resources, and Environmental Engineering.

Option 2: Master of Engineering (M.E.) in Civil Engineering An alternative postgraduate qualification with similar recognition.

Key Entrance Exams

JEE Main & Advanced serves as the gateway for admission to IITs, NITs, and other central institutions. State Engineering Entrance Exams like KCET and WBJEE provide access to state colleges. GATE is crucial for postgraduate studies and PSU jobs.

Licensing and Registration

Register with the Institution of Engineers (India) and obtain professional engineer certification after gaining experience.

Why build a career in Civil Engineering?

Scope:

The scope of civil engineering seems endless as far as modern-day professions are concerned. If we take into consideration of market growth trend of civil engineering field, it is estimated to have been USD 9 trillion in 2018 & is expected to show a growth trend of 4% from the period of 2019-2025.

Exponential growth in demand for environmental-friendly buildings along with the involvement of the government to make major metropolitans environment-friendly has provided a launchpad for civil engineering to take a larger market share.

According to Civil Engineering Market Share Statistics Report 2025,Civil Engineering Market Share Statistics Report 2025, the government purchase segment had over 50% of the share in 2018.

This was backed up by well-structured regulations for various construction activities which magnified the market share of civil engineering.

Thus Civil engineering government jobs have also seen substantial growth in India.

Government jobs in civil engineering have started to gain momentum to fill in the demand-supply gap within the government workforce ecosystem.

Big market giants are positively investing in various projects across the length & breadth of the country, thus creating surging scope for more civil engineers.

Demand:

As per the Economic Times report, By 2020, 95 billion sq. feet is projected to be the demand of construction industry & although the industry is on such a boom, yet this industry lacks the required workforce by a huge margin.

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors filed a report namely “Real Estate & Construction Professionals in India by 2020” stating that nearly a gap range of 82% to 86% can be seen in Demand-Supply of civil engineers, construction workers & architects.

If this report is further detailed, it states that India shall require 4 million civil engineers by the end of next year.

Keeping into consideration the stats which have evolved, it’s convenient to say that the demand for civil engineers is growing at a much stronger rate.

Civil Engineering Jobs In India

Here is a list of civil engineering jobs in India.

Civil Engineering Job Roles

It is noteworthy that civil engineering offers a wide number of roles that depend on companies & requirements, however, the above mentioned are the core job roles wherein maximum hiring of civil engineers take place.

What is a civil engineer's salary?

Salary packages can vary depending upon the organization, skillset & experience of the Candidate.

What are the important civil engineer skills?

Now, let’s go through the important skills for a civil engineer. We have tried to address both the current skills and the emerging skills to help you make it big in the field of civil engineering;

Current Important Skills

Technical Skills

• AutoCAD, STAAD Pro, and other CAD software proficiency
• Solid understanding of structural analysis techniques
• Knowledge of construction materials and their properties
• Proficiency in surveying techniques and equipment
• Soil mechanics and foundation engineering knowledge
• Understanding of hydraulics and water resource management

Project Management Skills

• Construction planning and scheduling expertise
• Budget management and cost estimation abilities
• Contract administration knowledge
• Stakeholder management capabilities
• Quality control procedures implementation
• Risk assessment and mitigation planning

Future Important Skills

Digital Transformation Skills

• Building Information Modeling (BIM) expertise
• Advanced 3D modeling and visualization
• Drone technology for surveying and monitoring
• Virtual and augmented reality applications
• Programming and coding knowledge
• Data analytics for evidence-based decision making

Sustainability Skills

• Green building certification knowledge
• Renewable energy integration expertise
• Life cycle assessment abilities
• Climate change adaptation strategies
• Circular economy principles application
• Carbon footprint reduction techniques

Emerging Technologies Skills

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications
• 3D printing for construction
• Smart materials and adaptive structures knowledge
• Internet of Things (IoT) implementation
• Prefabrication and modular construction expertise
• Robotics in construction

Interdisciplinary Skills

• Systems thinking for complex infrastructure challenges
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration
• Urban planning integration
• Public health considerations
• Social impact assessment
• Economic modeling

Soft Skills

• Problem-solving abilities
• Effective communication skills
• Teamwork and leadership qualities
• Attention to detail
• Ethical decision-making
• Adaptability to changing conditions

Pros & Cons of Civil Engineering Career

Additionally, a diploma course can also be done right after 10th class to get a job as Junior Engineer.

Conclusion

Civil Engineering is growing at an electrifying pace, thus a career in civil engineering seems promising & a reliable career path.

Creative thinking & right attitude towards positively facing challenges that come in the wake of an hour, indeed civil engineering promises a prosperous career.

Best of Luck!

** FAQs:**

1. What do you actually do as a civil engineer?
   Civil engineers design, build, and maintain infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, buildings, and water systems. They ensure structures are safe, sustainable, and efficient.

2. Can civil engineers get a high salary?
   Yes, civil engineers can earn high salaries, especially with experience, specialization, and leadership roles. Salaries vary by location, industry, and expertise.

3. What are the duties of a civil engineer?
   Civil engineers analyze project requirements, design plans, oversee construction, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.

4. Is civil engineering a good career?
   Yes, civil engineering is a stable and rewarding career with strong job demand, opportunities for growth, and the chance to impact society through infrastructure development.