The following article includes an introduction to structural engineering and provides additional information on the following topics:
What is Structural Engineering?
What is a Structural Engineer?
How to become a Structural Engineer?
How to find a Structural Engineer?
What employment opportunities are in Structural Engineering?
What is the Career Progression as a Structural Engineer?
How much do Structural Engineers earn?
What is Structural Engineering?
Structural engineering is a branch of civil engineering that is responsible for the design, analysis, and assessment of structures such as buildings, bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure. It involves the application of engineering principles to ensure that structures are safe, stable, and capable of withstanding the loads and stresses they will encounter throughout their lifespan.
Structural engineering involves the use of advanced software and tools to analyse and assess the performance of structures under different conditions. This may include simulating earthquakes, wind loads, and other environmental factors to determine how a structure will perform under stress. The aim of structural engineering is to create safe, durable, and sustainable structures.
Structural engineering is an essential discipline that plays a critical role in the construction and maintenance of infrastructure around the world. It is important to ensure the safety and functionality of the built environment, and to protect people and property from harm due to structural failure.
What is a Structural Engineer?
A structural engineer is a professional who specializes in structural engineering, as already described above, this involves designing and analysing structures such as buildings, bridges, tunnels, towers, and other types of infrastructure. They use their knowledge of physics, mathematics, and engineering principles to ensure that structures are safe, stable, functional, and able to withstand the forces they will experience during their lifetime.
Structural engineers work closely with architects and construction teams to ensure that their designs are viable, practical, cost-effective, and meet the necessary building codes and regulations, while also satisfying the project criteria and specifications. They are responsible for designing and analysing the structural elements of a building, such as beams, columns, and foundations, to ensure that they are strong enough to withstand the applied loads, determining the appropriate materials to use, and designing systems to resist wind, seismic, and other types of loads that the structure may be subjected to. Additionally, they perform inspections, conduct tests, and monitor the construction process to ensure that the structure is built according to the correct specifications.
Structural engineers are typically professionals who have completed a degree in civil or structural engineering, more senior structural engineers will have years of experiences and likely to be a chartered engineer.
How to become a Structural Engineer?
To become a structural engineer can vary in different countries, in the UK you typically need to follow these steps:
Get a degree: You will need to obtain a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field, such as structural engineering or architectural engineering, from a university that is accredited by the Engineering Council in the UK. Gaining a post graduate degree like a master’s degree can be beneficial for career opportunities and advancement.
Gain work experience: After completing your degree, you will need to gain experience working in the industry under the supervision of an experienced structural engineer. This may involve working as a graduate engineer or technician in a structural engineering firm, or in a related industry.
Professional registration: You will need to register with the Engineering Council as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) by becoming a chartered member of the relevant institution. In the UK, it is most likely that a structural engineer will look in to becoming a member of either the Institution of Structural Engineers or the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Ongoing professional development: As a chartered engineer, you will need to continue your professional development throughout your career, through ongoing education, training, and experience.
It's worth noting that the specific requirements for becoming a structural engineer may vary depending on the employer and the type of work involved. However, following the above steps is generally a good starting point for anyone interested in pursuing a career in structural engineering in the UK. Structural engineers in the UK must also adhere to professional codes of conduct and ethical standards.
How to find a Structural Engineer?
If you need to find a structural engineer, here are some steps you can take:
Ask for referrals: Ask friends, family, and colleagues if they have worked with a structural engineer before and if they can recommend someone.
Check professional organizations: The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) is a professional body for structural engineers in the UK, and they have a directory of members on their website. You can also check other professional organizations such as the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for recommendations.
Search online: You can use search engines to find structural engineers in your area. Look for firms that specialize in the type of work you need, such as residential or commercial construction, and read reviews and testimonials from past clients.
Contact consulting firms directly: If you know of a consulting firm that specializes in the type of project you need help with then you can contact them directly to inquire about their services. They may have a team of qualified structural engineers who can work on your project.
Consult with building professionals: If you are working with an architect or a contractor, they may be able to recommend a structural engineer with whom they have worked with in the past.
Use online directories: You can use online directories like the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) directory to search for qualified structural engineers.
Check credentials: Make sure any structural engineer you consider working with is a qualified professional and a member of a recognized professional organization such as the IStructE or ICE.
Once you have a shortlist of potential structural engineers, you can contact them to discuss your project and determine if they are a good fit for your needs. You may also want to request references or examples of past projects to help you make your decision.
What employment opportunities are in Structural Engineering?
There are many employers in the United Kingdom who hire structural engineers. Here are some examples of the types of companies and organizations that may hire structural engineers in the UK:
Consulting engineering firms: These firms provide a range of engineering services to clients in various industries, including construction, transportation, and energy.
Contractors: Construction contractors hire structural engineers to design and oversee the construction of buildings, bridges, and other structures.
Government agencies: Local authorities, transport agencies, and other government bodies may hire structural engineers to work on public infrastructure projects.
Architectural firms: Architects often collaborate with structural engineers to design buildings that are safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.
Oil and gas companies: Structural engineers may be hired by oil and gas companies to design and maintain offshore platforms and other facilities.
Academic institutions: Universities and research institutions may hire structural engineers to teach and conduct research in the field.
What is the Career Progression as a Structural Engineer?
There is potential for good career progression in structural engineering and the list below shows the common roles structural engineers can advance to throughout their career.
Graduate Engineer: This role is typically an engineer in their first few years of training and has recently finished university. These roles are closely supervised and mentored by a more senior engineer.
Engineer: In this role, you will have developed from a graduate but will not yet be a senior. You will have gained some experience and should have more responsibilities and ability than in the first few years of your career.
Senior Engineer: This role typically involves management responsibilities, providing technical guidance to junior engineers, and contributing to the development of technical solutions.
Engineering Manager: In this role, you would oversee a team and be responsible for the delivery of projects, budgets, and schedules. You would also be responsible for ensuring that the team is working effectively and efficiently.
Technical Director: As a technical director, you would be responsible for overseeing the technical aspects of projects, as well as the development of new products and services. You would provide technical guidance and support to teams across the organization and be responsible for ensuring that the organization remains at the forefront of technical innovation.
Executive Leadership: In this role, you would be responsible for the strategic direction of the organization, developing and implementing policies and procedures, and managing relationships with stakeholders.
How much do Structural Engineers earn?
The average salary of a structural engineer can vary depending on several factors such as; experience, qualifications, location, type of employer, and type of industry. There are various websites that provide average salaries as a guide, including ‘Prospects’, ‘Totaljobs’, ‘Indeed’, ‘Reed’, ‘National Careers’, ‘PayScale’, ‘Glassdoor’, and ‘IStructE’; and according to these websites, the salary can range between various levels as shown below.
The websites appear to provide the following average salaries. For a graduate structural engineer, an average salary appears to be approximately £20,000-£30,000. It would be expected that the graduate salary will steadily increase over the first few years due to performance and experience-based pay rises as a graduate’s knowledge develops quickly over these years. For a structural engineer with a few years’ experience but not quite senior level, the average salary appears to be approximately between £30,000-£45,000. For senior structural engineers, the average salary appears to be approximately £45,000-£55,000, and then for those who go on to roles with more business/management responsibilities such as managers / associates / directors the salary can be £60,000-£80,000+.
It's worth noting that these salaries are there as a guide and can be affected by the various factors mentioned previously (e.g., experience, locations, type of employer, and type of industry). Salaries tend to be higher in certain areas of the UK, particularly in London (see the ‘Walker Dendle Technical Recruitment’ website for a guide to salaries in London). In addition, structural engineers who work for large engineering firms or construction companies may earn more than those who work for smaller firms. Additionally other aspects such as bonuses, benefits, and other compensation packages also affect salaries.