Also called: Structural Engineer (Bridges), Bridge Design Engineer
Designs new bridges and figures out how to repair or strengthen old ones.
You run structural models of a steel bridge to see how much weight it can safely carry, then design a repair for corroded beams. You visit the site in a hard hat and work with contractors during construction.
Estimated from BLS civil engineers (median about $100k); licensed structural engineers earn more.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's in civil engineering; many have a master's in structural engineering plus PE and SE licenses.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). BLS projects civil engineers to grow about 5%, with heavy bridge investment.
Low risk for 10 years. AI speeds analysis and drafting; inspecting aging bridges and signing designs stay human, and repair demand is high.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, CAD or drafting.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2051.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.