Shouldn't Civil Engineers get paid more?

Question

I mean they have to pay the same amount of money for college as any other engineering major. They also have to get a PE license to find a decent job. Most other engineers don't really need one to find a good job. Once they do get licensed, they become liable for everything if the structure fails. I don't think other engineers deal with that much pressure... So why is it that a lot of other engineers have less respect for the career and civil engineers generally get paid lower than other engineers?

Answer 1

My dad was a civil engineer as well as a structural engineer, and he did quite well, although being in business for himself, I imagine there were some lean times as well as good times. As children, we were never aware when business was slow.

For various reasons I became an EE rather than follow my dad's example. Late in my career I obtained my PE registration, but have never needed to use it. However, a civil engineer or structural engineer absolutely needs the PE license to do much more than drafting.

I can't speak as to which engineering field has better pay, but I can observe that there is a much greater opportunity for innovation in electronics than in civil engineering. I can also imagine that there are not too many patents related to civil engineering. So if pay is associated with advancing the state of the art, I suppose that civil engineers would not do as well as some other fields. Yet civil engineers often have more responsibility. It boils down to what the market demands.

I want to repeat what I've said before in this forum, that civil engineers should also obtain their structural engineering registration. Where I live in Southern California, a civil engineer may be able to design a roadway, but it takes a structural engineer to design the bridges. You'll also earn more with both certifications.

Answer 2

I suggest you look in other locations. Pay varies greatly from one location to the next. Once you build a good reputation, you can also get more.

If you insist on looking what other engineers are making compared to civil engineers, keep in mind that aeronautical engineers have great risks, too. Then there's the nuclear set. They are very exclusive. If they slip up, thousands could be affected.

Don't go comparing oranges to apples.

Answer 3

Every Profession has snobbery.

Respect comes from Doing not expecting.

Pay comes from talent of success

As for me, Teachers, Firemen and Police should have more pay.
But hey, I was just a single mom,struggling, whom never did those professions I applaud, which most think they deserve better doing what? Legos, act, throw/catch/swing at balls?
Good luck on the sympathy, Not getting it here

Answer 4

Oh really? You mean that if a Chemical Engineer messes up with a plant design, there won't be an explosion?

That's just an example of one engineer messing up..

Answer 5

Yes