Hi my name is Binyam and I'm a 7th grader at Mayfield Woods Middle school.  I decided to research civil engineering as my career and i need to know a few thing about your profession.
What is your daily routine?
What are some advantages and things you like about your job?
What are some disadvantages
What is the hardest thing you have done?
What education have you gone through to become a civil engineer?
How long is your work day?
What is your work environment like?
What is your salary?
What made you want to become an engineer?
What tools do you you use?
Thank you for answering my questions

i see you posted this a week ago. I hope this isn't too late.

First some background:
Civil engineering is a pretty big career field. There are Structural Engineers who build buildings, bridges, and tunnels. Transportation Engineers build roads, railroads, and airports. Environmental Engineers can sometimes help protect the environment and also help cities supply fresh water and clean (treat) sewage. Geotechnical Engineers work with dirt and rocks and everything underground. They might work on tunnels, mines, dams are needed by all the other engineers mentioned above.

Often, there are several organizations involved in an engineering project:
Client or owner - the owner needs some "thing" built, like a building or highway.
Consultant or designer - a consultant is hired by the owner to design the "thing" they need. Basically, their job is to figure out and explain exactly how the thing should be built.
Contractor or builder - the contractor is the team of construction workers who actually build the "thing".

An engineer may work for any of these organizations. The company I work for is a consultant.

What is your daily routine?
I show up in the morning and work on a computer at my desk. Most of my time is spent creating plans which are basically large drawings that show exactly how to build the project I am working on. The plans are assembled in sets and can range from only a few pages to several hundred pages. I can also work on what we call specifications and engineering reports. It usually will take several months to complete a project or, sometimes, even a year or longer.

To use an analogy, the plans would show you how to build a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  The specifications and reports would tell you what kind of bread, peanut butter, and jelly to use in the sandwich.

What are some advantages and things you like about your job?
First, it pays well enough that i can live comfortably and take care of my kids, their mother, and myself.  I also like that my work will eventually be built. I can go visit the things I've designed and see people using them. That means a lot to me...to see that my work is helping other people.

What are some disadvantages
Becoming an engineer takes a lot of hard work in school. You'll have to go to college to get an engineering degree and that takes time and a lot of studying.  Also, I often have to work long hours and stay late at work. Frankly, when engineering is exciting, it can be challenging. And when it's not, it can be boring too.

What is the hardest thing you have done?
The hardest thing I've ever had to do in my career is get my engineering degree. I had to work much harder in school than I've had to at work.

What education have you gone through to become a civil engineer?
Engineers usually get a college degree called a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE).  Some Engineers will later become a Licenced Professional Engineer or a PE.  Neither the BSCE or the PE are required to be an engineer but, usually, a civil engineer will have both. And it doesn't stop there. There is always more to learn, every day.

How long is your work day?
Technically, my work day is supposed to be 8 hours long. Add in my lunch hour and it's 9 hours. But, truthfully, I am in the office at least 10 hours every day, Monday through Friday. Sometimes, it might be necessary to work much longer than that and or work on Saturdays and Sundays. I have at times worked up to 16, 18, or even 20 hour in a day.

What is your work environment like?
Everywhere I have worked as an engineer has been in an office building. My office is always a cubicle.  Once in a while, I might work "in the field", which means that I am outside at the place where the project will be built. However, the work environment may be different for a different kind of engineer.

What is your salary?
An engineer's salary can vary a lot depending on how long they have been  an engineer, what kind of engineer they are, and where they live. An engineer just starting out today might make $40k or more. As his or her career continues, this amount might double or possibly triple.  Ask your mom or dad to help find salary information from the US Department of Labor Statistics website or from Salary.com

It's unlikely that you will become very rich as an engineer. But, it does pay well and you will make a salary well above average.

What made you want to become an engineer?
I didn't know what an engineer was until my father told me that he thought I would be good at it.  That was when I was about your age.  Aptitude tests I took in school told me the same thing. I liked science and was o.k. at math.  My impression was the it would be a good job. There will always be a need for engineers.

What tools do you you use?
The most important tool I use (other than my brain) is my computer and its design software. As you're well aware, everything is done by computer now.  The software I use most often is called Microstation which is used with other software called Geopak and or InRoads. I also use AutoCAD which uses Civil3D.  These are just 2 of many programs engineers might use.  In addition, engineers will use drafting tools like scales (a sort of ruler) and triangles.  These help us draw and read plans.

Other kinds of engineers might use construction equipment or surveying equipment.


I hope this information is useful to you. Whatever carreer you choose as you get older, I wish you good luck and much success. Work hard in school. I know it sucks sometimes but, I promise you, it matters and it's important.