SEStructural Engineer
SE
Career

Structural Engineer

By the numbers
Typical pay
$100,840 / yr
Education to start
Bachelor's degree
Future demand
+5.0% by 2034
People in this job
368K
Figures shown for ·closest of 2 O*NET occupations
The work
Watch · day in the life
A day, hour by hour
08:00
Morning review

Scan overnight emails, flag urgent site questions from contractors.

08:30
Load calculations

Run numbers on a new floor system — does it handle the dead and live loads?

10:00
Blueprint review

Sit with the architect; two beam spans won't hold — push back with alternatives.

11:00
Software modeling

Build the revised frame in SAP2000; test it against wind and seismic scenarios.

13:00
Site inspection

Walk the active build; spot a crack in a concrete column — safe or stop-work?

14:30
Materials decision

Steel vs. concrete for the next phase — weigh cost, timeline, and load demands.

15:30
Report writing

Write up the column finding: condition, risk level, and recommended repair.

16:30
Team sync

Brief the project manager on the crack; agree on next steps before close of day.

Things you do
  • Calculate how much weight and force a structure can safely handle.
  • Design the skeleton of buildings and bridges using engineering software.
  • Check that designs won't collapse under wind, earthquakes, or heavy loads.
  • Walk construction sites to make sure the structure is being built correctly.
  • Pick the right materials — steel, concrete, timber — for each project.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Is this structure safe enough, or do I need to redesign it entirely?
  • Should I add more material here for safety, or is that overkill for the budget?
  • Does this crack I'm seeing on-site mean the building is in danger right now?
  • Should I push back on the architect's design, or can I make it work structurally?
  • Is steel the right call here, or does this project need concrete?
Education Pathways · how you get there
100 in 100 went the college route · 0 in 100 found another way in None, typically
Education mapped from O*NET:Civil Engineers · 92% related
If you like this, also look at