Any Civil Engineers out there???

[ATLien69]

Just wondering... :)

[ATLien69]

guess not... >:(

[manho]

2 more yrs of school to become one :|

[rc51]

My wife is one..but isn't doing any serious engineering anymore..she's moved onto the business/financial side of things to climb that corporate ladder. Too easy to get silo'd if she would have just stayed in Engineering.

She's also got an undergrad in Architecture, which she says helped quite a bit when she did her Engineering degree.

What do you want to know?

[ATLien69]

Cool what school???

2 more yrs of school to become one :|

[ATLien69]

What do you mean by "silo'd"??? I just started my career a few years ago (graduated in 2002) and just realized the pay isn't all that good in consulting. :mad: Oh well...not always about the $$$ I guess... :cheesygri
My wife is one..but isn't doing any serious engineering anymore..she's moved onto the business/financial side of things to climb that corporate ladder. Too easy to get silo'd if she would have just stayed in Engineering.

She's also got an undergrad in Architecture, which she says helped quite a bit when she did her Engineering degree.

What do you want to know?

[manho]

Cool what school???

maclean's #1 in comprehensive - waterloo :cheesygri

[doobievibes]

I'm not sure if I can call myself a "Civil Engineer". I graduated in 2002, but not yet worked in the field. Due to family obligations, I have just started looking now. Kinda tough with no experience, but I'm going to try.

[rc51]

What do you mean by "silo'd"??? I just started my career a few years ago (graduated in 2002) and just realized the pay isn't all that good in consulting. :mad: Oh well...not always about the $$$ I guess... :cheesygri


Silo'd as in terms of advancement within the company.... if she had stayed in the Engineering side of things the highest she probably would have gotten was perhaps Engineering Manager, and that's it. In her company, that's very low on the management scale. It seems that to get to the Director or VP level, which is what she is targeting for, you need to get into the business or financial side of a company, or at least her company. All of their VP's and Directors have some sort of business/financial background, ie, Engineering or Finance degree supplemented with an MBA.

She will be starting her MBA I believe next fall...

BTW, consulting can be feast or famine. She got on with a consulting company after grad...(she had worked a couple terms with them when she was in co-op during Eng) and they pretty much recruited her when she was just finishing up..she lasted 2 weeks there. She hated it, very dry office, no atmosphere..and it would have been a long time till she made partner if ever. She moved to a much bigger company, got recruited again actually, got a ton of different experiences, also paid her dues though doing grunt work as an EIT, and now has climbed the ladder to a mid level management position, but more importantly, lots of exposure, which is a good thing if she can prove herself, to get to that next level.

[K@$H!F]

what is the hourly pay for civil engineers?starting pay?and how high can it go up to?
thanks

[ATLien69]

Cool my gf is currently in chem eng at waterloo...3rd year. I like that town, I visit all the time...

maclean's #1 in comprehensive - waterloo :cheesygri

[ATLien69]

Yeah def not easy...I've been with three different consulting firms in the last 4 years. :) Problem is not me, it's them...they seem to be very unstable... :confused:

I'm not sure if I can call myself a "Civil Engineer". I graduated in 2002, but not yet worked in the field. Due to family obligations, I have just started looking now. Kinda tough with no experience, but I'm going to try.

[ATLien69]

That is so true, like I said the pay is very low compared to ther engineering professions. Start is anywhere between high 30's to low 40's for someone straight outta university. Even as project managers (maybe 70,000) the pay doesn't reflect the stress. VERY STRESSFULL keeping jobs and clients happy!

Silo'd as in terms of advancement within the company.... if she had stayed in the Engineering side of things the highest she probably would have gotten was perhaps Engineering Manager, and that's it. In her company, that's very low on the management scale. It seems that to get to the Director or VP level, which is what she is targeting for, you need to get into the business or financial side of a company, or at least her company. All of their VP's and Directors have some sort of business/financial background, ie, Engineering or Finance degree supplemented with an MBA.

She will be starting her MBA I believe next fall...

BTW, consulting can be feast or famine. She got on with a consulting company after grad...(she had worked a couple terms with them when she was in co-op during Eng) and they pretty much recruited her when she was just finishing up..she lasted 2 weeks there. She hated it, very dry office, no atmosphere..and it would have been a long time till she made partner if ever. She moved to a much bigger company, got recruited again actually, got a ton of different experiences, also paid her dues though doing grunt work as an EIT, and now has climbed the ladder to a mid level management position, but more importantly, lots of exposure, which is a good thing if she can prove herself, to get to that next level.

[ATLien69]

No hrly rate, just salary...about 38k-42k to start and can go up to whatever depending on exp., position, and company. (maybe topped at 80,000 unless you start getting into the financial/management side of the company, VERY DIFFICULT to do thou, and will take 20+ years at least!)

what is the hourly pay for civil engineers?starting pay?and how high can it go up to?
thanks

[rc51]

No hrly rate, just salary...about 38k-42k to start and can go up to whatever depending on exp., position, and company. (maybe topped at 80,000 unless you start getting into the financial/management side of the company, VERY DIFFICULT to do thou, and will take 20+ years at least!)

Not necessarily....I think it depends on the person (skills, personality), the company (how big it is, how progressive) and the market you're in.

My wife has only been out of school for 8 years now, and has already broken that magical 6 figure mark, and she's only just starting to make her move into senior management...not bad for someone who's only 35..and a female on top of that. (She's in a very male dominated industry).

Like I said, it depends on the person, who you know, who knows you and how well you can play the political/social games that's being played at the corporate level. I definitely couldn't do it..don't have the patience to play the stupid games...that's why I chose a much more tangible career path, aviation and IT. Less money, but less headaches.

[THE JEW (RaVeN)]

Also depends on which branch of civil you go into. Places like Ryerson allow you to specialize in traditional civil engineering while also taking geomatics. This allows to not only take on civil engineering jobs but also surveying jobs. Not necessarily more money--definitely more options. Plus, if you really want to expand your options you can also take their optional building inspector courses. Basically, in 4 years you could qaulify to be a standard civil engineer, surveyor, and building inspector. Combine that with an MBA......gold, brother, pure gold.


At least, that's what I'm hoping ;)

[K@$H!F]

that's why I chose a much more tangible career path, aviation and IT. Less money, but less headaches.

what are you doing in aviation?or is it avionics

[manho]

No hrly rate, just salary...about 38k-42k to start and can go up to whatever depending on exp., position, and company. (maybe topped at 80,000 unless you start getting into the financial/management side of the company, VERY DIFFICULT to do thou, and will take 20+ years at least!)

not really. anything is possible i guess. if ure a good social and management person, u can climb up with minimal but adequate engineering skills. i had an interview with the Ontario regional manager of Golder's, an apparently he's a young guy, graduated only couple years or so.

[manho]

Also depends on which branch of civil you go into. Places like Ryerson allow you to specialize in traditional civil engineering while also taking geomatics. This allows to not only take on civil engineering jobs but also surveying jobs. Not necessarily more money--definitely more options. Plus, if you really want to expand your options you can also take their optional building inspector courses. Basically, in 4 years you could qaulify to be a standard civil engineer, surveyor, and building inspector. Combine that with an MBA......gold, brother, pure gold.


At least, that's what I'm hoping ;)

surveyor is pretty good money i guess, but the tradeoff is being out in the field in the middle of nowhere for 7, 8 hours a day. i really wouldnt do it if i have engineering degree behind my back. But it surely is good to impress people with a surveying qualification.

Building inspector doesnt make much, compare to a typical civil eng (at least the city one's doesnt). But again, probably something good on resume.

If you want big money, i heard Geologicial is big money right now, with all the mining and oil.

[THE JEW (RaVeN)]

Yeah, surveying's good if ya just wanna get away from it all. One of my friends graduated last year, got a party chief job out in Alberta, and was making over $80 000 what with overtime. They flew him out and helped put him up. He paid off all of his university loans the first year of work. They worked him like a dog, but again......no more loans.

What quite a few construction companies will do is let you get your surveying and engineering licenses at the same time. That's the real payoff. MMM is really good for that. My buddy started working there last year. He started with $45 000, but they allowed him to get both licenses at the same time (they just put him under 2 supervisors so that he can get the official time needed). Once he gets those, they told him that his salary would go up significantly. How much that implies, I don't know. But once you have your license (either of them), your options are a lot better anyways.

City of Toronto building inspectors top out at around $60 000 - $75 000 in my experience. Not bad, but your chances of salary growth are limited (what you get on your contract is all you can really expect aside from cost of living increase pretty much).

Honestly, no one really gets into engineering or surveying for the big bucks (unless you make management). Consulting, as has been said before, is really spotty (feast or famine). Surveying and engineering are good jobs, but unless you go for the business aspect one really shouldn't expect to break the 6 figure mark. At least, that's how I see it.

[rc51]

what are you doing in aviation?or is it avionics


Was in aviation...Electrical/Engine/Airframe (military background).

Had a chance to go IT, did it for $*%& & giggles and have never looked back. Although I do miss the seat time and flight hours at times.

[slapnuts]

That seems a bit low... alot of the engineers in Calgary are regularly by-passing the $100K mark in 5 years after initial inseertion into the industry. Look at it this way....population is increasingly getting older, more openings, not enough engineers around.....hence more competition for getting the 'geers to work for them.....this ends up being awesome for all of us 'geers in Calgary, Edmonton... basically Alberta

starting is around $50K in O&G currently too boot....

No hrly rate, just salary...about 38k-42k to start and can go up to whatever depending on exp., position, and company. (maybe topped at 80,000 unless you start getting into the financial/management side of the company, VERY DIFFICULT to do thou, and will take 20+ years at least!)

[ATLien69]

I guess I'm moving WEST! :!: No where in Ontario can u make $100k being a civil for only 5 years... I've progressed from $40k to $48k in four years. :) ANd I'm happy for that! :)

That seems a bit low... alot of the engineers in Calgary are regularly by-passing the $100K mark in 5 years after initial inseertion into the industry. Look at it this way....population is increasingly getting older, more openings, not enough engineers around.....hence more competition for getting the 'geers to work for them.....this ends up being awesome for all of us 'geers in Calgary, Edmonton... basically Alberta

starting is around $50K in O&G currently too boot....