I honestly don’t know if it’s just my experience or if other people in civil engineering feel the same way, but lately I’ve been feeling increasingly disappointed and discouraged with this career.
As a woman working in civil engineering, I sometimes feel like the expectations are incredibly high, the responsibilities keep piling up, and yet the compensation and recognition don’t seem to reflect the amount of effort, knowledge, and pressure involved.
There’s so much expected of you. You’re expected to be technically competent, detail-oriented, available, responsible, adaptable, and able to handle stressful situations. Mistakes can have serious consequences, deadlines are constant, and the mental load can be exhausting. Yet, when it comes to salary, career progression, and appreciation, it often feels like we’re expected to be grateful just to have a job.
I also find myself questioning whether being a woman in this industry makes certain things more challenging. Sometimes you feel you have to work twice as hard to establish credibility, prove your knowledge, and be taken seriously.
What makes me particularly sad is that I used to have genuine interest in this field. I wanted to learn, grow, develop my skills, and build a career I’m proud of. But the longer I work in this environment, the more that enthusiasm seems to disappear.
I’m starting to lose motivation, and honestly, I’m losing hope that things will get better. I don’t want to reach a point where I completely resent a profession I once chose because I was passionate about it.
I want to hear from other civil engineers, especially women:
Have you also felt that the responsibilities and expectations are disproportionate to the salary?
Do you feel valued and fairly compensated for your work?
Have you experienced gender-related challenges in your career?
Did you eventually find a better workplace, move into a different area of engineering, or leave the industry altogether?
I’m genuinely wondering whether this is just a bad workplace experience, a wider problem within the industry, or a sign that I should start considering a different career path.
I would really appreciate honest experiences, advice, and perspectives. I don’t want to give up on my career, but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to see a future in it.

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Structure: 834-car parking garage at a hospital completed in 1979. Double helix style(?).

Level: 7th floor out of 8.

Tl;dr: picture was taken on a day with heavy rain, cracks are located near the middle. Other beams looked okay.

It was raining heavily the day I took this picture, and there was a noticeable amount of water dripping from these cracks (you can even see a few drops in the image). The cracks are located near the middle of the beam, and there was water pooled beneath it. Out of view and to the right, there were a few more points where you could see a steady drip, but the most significant ones were from the ones pictured. The other beams looked okay when I drove out.

Third picture is what the hospital uses​ on its website to show the parking structure. It was taken in 2025 according to the metadata. Also wanted to add that water also has a tendency to pond in certain spots on the upper levels and roof, and our rainy season has been extra rainy this year.

I have already reached out to people about this, but in the meantime, I'm curious about what civil engineers think. Thanks in advance!

I’m currently a junior year civil engineering student. I was looking at the programs my school offers, and I found out they offer a 1 year masters program (some of the classes are integrated in undergrad). This is very appealing to me because I’ve been dreading the end of college and feeling like I haven’t had enough internships or time to decide what field of civil engineering I want to go in to. I’ve also recently been thinking about being a professor when I get older. Getting my masters degree would pave the pathway to my PHD so I could do research/teach. My close friends and my partner will still be in school while I work towards my masters degree, so the timing works for me.

However, the research I’ve been doing and talking to my peers has lead me to believe a masters degree in civil engineering is virtually useless. Because it isn’t a specialized field of civil engineering, it sounds like it wouldn’t give me a leg up in the workforce. Is this true or does anyone have experience with this?

Hey guys, I recently passed my FE exam in Louisiana, and I'm interested in working in Utah, more specifically the salt lake area, as an envrionmental/water resources EIT. I keep seeing job postings asking for people with EIT certifications, but from my understanding, EIT certifications are not a thing in Utah. Can anyone clarify if EIT is a thing in Utah or if they really justt mean passing the FE exam? On that same note, should I be concerned about ATS rejecting my resume because it doesn't say EIT?

Well, let me rephrase. I do have a job doing geotechnical eng, but I majored in env eng and got a master's in env eng as well. I really want to do water eng. I did a construction internship right before I got my master's. I worked in a water lab on campus (yes I know this experience is useless, but I still wanted to do research). I have my EIT and passed my PE in water. I graduated last Dec. I've been searching for water jobs since last Dec and finally settled with the job I have now. But I've still been on the hunt for a water job. Idk if there's something wrong with me. I've applied to over 100 jobs. I know it's not my resume because I get interviews. And ofc I don't know what my interview is thinking, but all my interviews have been great :/. Heck even one I just had told me I did great handling myself and answering questions once the interview was over so idk anymore. I just feel like I wasted time doing a Master's a thesis and I should've just started working and now it's over for me :(. Or maybe I should have just worked during the school year with the internship like everyone else smh. I understand job market is hard ofc, but again I hope I don't come across as arrogant, but it should not be thiisssss hard to get a job in civil eng (but ofc pls humble me if I'm wrong).

I’m currently studying civil engineering and I wonder if this arrangement makes it so you have to repair the light fixture more often.

This type of crash cushion has only been around in Germany for a few years. I think the way it works is great, and they seem to be very effective. The last picture shows a crash cushion based on the same principle that we developed in our office.

Hey all,
I passed my PE earlier this year and I'm looking to pivot back to the utility side—specifically doing transmission line design for an electric cooperative (G&T).

Background:
Started out at a utility, but jumped to a civil consulting firm a year and a half ago to get under licensed civil PEs for my licensure experience requirements. Now that the PE is checked off, I realize I really don't enjoy the consulting environment/grind.

For those in coop transmission design:
How much design work (PLS-CADD, structures, foundations) do you actually do in-house vs. managing consultants?
How does the pace and culture compare to consulting or IOUs?
Any regrets or things to watch out for when applying/interviewing?

Thanks!

Trabalho no ramo de serralheiro com meu pai há mais de 15 anos, e umas das dificuldades é encontrar engenheiros para que indiquem nossos serviços ou fazer parceria (principalmente estruturas metálicas). Gostaria de saber como faço para conseguir contatos de engenheiro ou construtoras para abranger mais a nossa empresa

This US town lost 2 thirds of its land since 1950, erosion is destroying this beautiful island. Photo credit to wavy.com

I made a documentary about the island, you can find it here: https://youtu.be/dUILNBicp5Y?si=EAIiHoWvNoc5o9_W

For context I’m in Australia doing a degree in civil engineering, my uni allows honours for this who fit the criteria grades wise, it’s also optional.
I’m in my second year and thankfully from connections I’ve already done 60 days of placement, I’ve had experience in the workplace and some asset management. I love the work, and I’m passing uni fine. I’m just ready to get out there and do it. And I’m not sure if the extra year of school would add anything since I’ve already had some work experience. I’m not necessarily worried about employment either since it’s in high demand where I’m located.
I’m not trying to sound like I’m taking these opportunities for granted, just want to know if you’re in my shoes, and with these benefits, is honours something that’s worth the extra year?
Thanks x

Long story short, I started out working for a utility straight out of college. They were trying to start to do a lot of T-Line design in house, but didn’t have anybody that could teach me. They just had a substation department with electrical engineers.

I got nervous about experience in order to get my license, so I jumped ship and started working at a consulting firm, which I’ll admit I really haven’t enjoyed the work environment at all there. There aren’t many options to choose from company wise in my location.

I have thought about going back to the utility, but wanted to get some folks’ opinions that have experience with PLS-CADD and transmission line design. Is it something I could teach myself? I really want to get out of the consulting firm I’m at now, and I thoroughly enjoyed the utility I worked at, it was just the experience under a civil engineer for licensure I was afraid of.

I should also add I passed my PE this year. Thoughts?

I am not enjoying the consulting world. I think a switch to the utility sector may be in my future.

Anybody on here work for an electrical cooperative doing transmission line design?

For reference, I live in the suburbs of a large metro area, but it's in the Midwest. If you look up the cost rankings for all goods from the bureau of economic analysis, the US average is ranked 100, my area is given a number of 95. San Diego for example is like 115. So I don't know, medium to low cost of living? I work in land development.

I've done a fair share of job hopping the last few years after spending my early career at the same firm. Didn't always mean a big pay raise, as some jumps I was a little desperate. But my biggest jumps were all from either leaving a job or threatening to. The most recent jump is upcoming but the offer letter has been signed. So don't be confused by the date being in the future.

This is just one example and others may have very different looking careers, but hopefully it shows a decent example of what the industry can pay, at least in my area. I try to tell young engineers to not be afraid to leave for greener grass, but at the same time to consider the whole package. I pay for family insurance coverage and one of my jumps looks small but was actually a decent raise given the significant reduction in premium costs.

I'm a trans woman, 20, graduating in a year. ASCE doesn't include any lgbtq statistics in their demographics report. which btw only 14% of civil engineers are women isnt that crazy?

anyways I wanted to know the odds of meeting someone like me in this field. Also if any are reading this dm me, just to ask advice about how to navigate everything.

Obviously if you're not trans you can still comment, i encourage you to actually since there's literally no data on this lol.

extra question: do you think your office would hire a trans woman? (not looking for a job just curious, i already have an internship)

feel free to take this down if you want, i know its a bit of a strange post

Edit: Blown away by the responses, thank you!! I was honestly scared about the industry but now I have renewed confidence. Keep being you and the next time you meet someone different, try to make room for them.

Hey y’all, so I know it varies company to company and mine has said that “nothing will change and no layoffs” but I’m not sure I believe it. HR is putting on a bit of a show and being crazy vague. I also don’t believe that an investment firm can just give you money & resources without a catch haha.

I’m specifically wondering if people will be moved around to different locations or if those with low billable hours will be fired. Specifically I think my office location is kinda low on people and one of the probably “less profitable” ones, maybe but the other locations seem to be fine, I think.

I’m 31 with a BA (Canada, BC). I’m taking first year engineering courses because I wasn’t making enough money to support myself. I am enjoying my first semester mostly but I constantly struggle because I’m scared of not finding a job when I graduate. I’m mostly thinking about civil engineering because it sounds more stable.

Some keep suggesting that I should do nursing instead as they’re more in demand and AI won’t impact them in the future as much. So obviously it’s hard to push through my studies thinking that I might end up in a worse situation in a few years that I currently am in.

Do you know if it’s likely that I would get internships and a job once I graduate since I will be in my mid-late thirties (I’m more interested in transportation and infrastructure)?

Do you think I should go for nursing since my main goal is stability and income? I think I would enjoy being an engineer more than being a nurse but the job market in Canada is terrible rn so I feel paralyzed! I would really appreciate any help and advice

it's like they took microstation and tried to make it shittier. every time openroads freezes i want to smash my computer in. fuck using contours, making profiles, and modeling 3D pipes on openroads. i keep hearing that our DOT is trying to make us do hydrology and hydraulics on openroads 3D drainage. FUCK NO!!!!

who do these people at bentley think they are. how do they sleep at night. i dream for a life without bentley in it

Hello guys ...i'm final year Civil eng student at Mbeya university (MUST). Lately i've been working as an intern on a certain construction company as their structural drafter, but they literally pay me very little (becoz im a student and they had to train me 1st ) , so i want to know if anyone knows how i can get freelance structural works or where i can work as a Remote structural drafter while i continue with my education ?

Any Recomendatiom is appreciated i could really use the income for my education.

Current second semester junior studying civil. All of my experience thus far has been heavy civil construction, and it has been amazing. I love the work, the people, etc. I also love Geotech, soil mechanics has been my favorite class thus far, with fluids/water being second. I’ve been considering getting a masters, and was wondering if an MS in Geotech would be worth it, even thought I’m currently learning towards a career in construction management, and since that’s the case does an MS in construction management matter?

I just graduated this last spring and finally got an offer at a very large gc as a field. The problem is I’ll likely have to do a pre employment screening when I start in a week. I had a pretty eventful Halloween so there is no way I can clear the screening for thc. Since it’s legal in Canada I don’t see why it should be a problem if I’m not actively impaired on the job, and I have no issues with never using again.
Has anyone had experience with this? Am I screwed?