Civil Engineer/Structural Engineer
Designs, builds and maintains buildings, water systems, airports, roads and bridges.
Overview
Civil Engineers design and maintain structures such as public and private buildings, water systems, airports and roads. Structural Engineers analyze, design, build and maintain the structures and materials that counteract or reinforce loads. Some of the tasks a Civil Engineer is expected to perform include planning, organizing and supervising construction and repair of bridges, factories, towers, etc.; calculating and preparing estimated cost and detailed drawings; arranging for men, material, machinery and appliances, etc.
Where they work
- Local authorities
- Government departments
- Railways
- Water/electricity/gas companies across India
- Civil engineering contractors/consultants across India
Work environment
Your job role will require you to travel locally, and handle a team of engineers. You will work for 8/9 hours per day and for 5/6 days per week.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have an analytical mind and can think critically
- You like mathematics
- You have excellent communication skills and can lead a team
- You pay attention to minute details
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in Science stream (Physics, Chemistry and Maths).
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree (B.Tech./B.E.) in Civil Engineering
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree and then pursue a Master's degree (M.Tech./M.E.) in Civil Engineering.
Forms, exams and applications
Entrance Exams for admission to UG course such as JEE Mains, TNEA, MET, KCET, VITEE, etc. are conducted at the national, state or university level. Master's course requires entrance exams such as CAT, GATE, GRE. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Civil Engineering/Structural Engineering. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal
- Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand
- Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Odisha
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chandigarh
- University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
- Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab
- Jaipur National University, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Amity University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
- Chandigarh University, Ajitgarh, Punjab
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Civil/Structural Engineer
- 2Sr. Civil Engineer
- 3Project Manager
- 4Assistant General Manager
- 5Head of Division
- 6Head of Company
Expected income
₹19,000 – ₹90,000 per month or more, with experience
The figures are from NCS and are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Water Resource Engineer
Plans and builds water systems that deliver clean, safe water efficiently and conserve water and energy.
Railway Engineer
Designs, constructs and operates rail transport systems, drawing on civil and mechanical engineering.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science, Maths.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to building.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Shakuntala A Bhagat — India's first female civil engineer, she pioneered many innovative designs and founded Quadricon — a Mumbai-based construction firm that has designed 200 bridges across the world, including UK, USA and Germany. She was the first Indian woman to obtain a civil engineering degree. In 1960, Bhagat earned her Master's degree in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and went on to teach as an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and Head of the Heavy Structures Laboratory at IIT Mumbai. She passed away in 2012.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 469 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://bit.ly/3XsUd6V
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The profile's printed source is given only as "thebetterindia.com › Stories" without a full article address, so the site's home page is linked rather than guessing the article URL.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.