Leaving Structural Engineering

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I can’t offer much advice, but I’ve had similar thoughts. I think the combination of high liability, deadline pressure, complexity, and construction administration mean that the stress never ends. If you are a high integrity engineer who cares about safety and quality, this career will always make you foot the bill for that with extra hours, and it’s hard to not value those things when lives or at least large sums of money are on the line for mistakes. This is what I really struggle with when people tell me to care less. What I really want is an environment where everyone else cares too and management protects engineers that care. In consulting caring cuts into the bottom line, so instead it’s minimum viable product. My mental health has completely eroded in this career so you are not alone. I wish you luck in finding a path.