Also called: Coastal Engineer
Designs seawalls, living shorelines, and beaches to protect coasts from storms and sea-level rise.
Coastal engineers model waves and storm surge, design dunes, breakwaters, and marsh restoration, and supervise construction on beaches and harbors. Their work is in high demand as storms get stronger.
Above the BLS civil engineer median because of specialization.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's in civil or ocean engineering, usually a master's, and a PE license.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Civil Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Coastal Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI speeds storm-surge models and design options; licensed engineers still sign off on public safety.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP Environmental Science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2051.
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