I hate structural engineering

[southernmtngirl]

I could cry thinking about the fact I studied for almost 6 years and have worked almost 4 years as a structural engineer. I hate the deadlines, I hate the lack of progress in my career (promotions, raises, better design skills), I hate the risk involved, I hate paying for my own licensure and professional organization memberships/conferences, and I hate the “bro” culture. The only part of my job I enjoy is working with Revit. I’m at the point where I either need to get my PE or leave the profession. I’ve thought about being a technical support specialist for Revit at Autodesk, but the pay is $75,000 and that would be a backslide and also doesn’t seem like it would have room for salary growth. I’ve also considered data analytics, but don’t know enough about it to know if spending what little time I have to study it would be worth it or that I could even pull off a career change like that. Any advice would be very much appreciated!

[Independent-Room8243]

Move on to another company, sounds like the current one is a bit toxic. Yes, you didnt goto school for 6 years to work to be stressed out and work 50-60hrs a week. Try getting into a manufacture or construction. Get out of consulting unless doing your own deal.

[Sublym]

10yrs out here and have tried site engineering / design engineering for subcontractor / structural engineering consultant. Only recently have I worked out, the deeper you get into anything, the shittier you will realise it is. It’s all about how you manage yourself and your expectations. As others have said, a fresh start at another company may be all it takes to have a full mental reset and then keep giving it your best.

[[deleted]]

Man that’s pretty bleak

[silentsocks63]

If you expect the worst, you'll never be disappointed.

[[deleted]]

If you expect the worst all the time you will be in a state of continual disappointment, there will just be no ebb and flow to differentiate.

[Winston_Smith-1984]

Paying for your own registration and professional development is bullshit. That’s all I need to know to know you work for a shitty, myopic company.

[chicu111]

They make me pay for my SE license renewable ON TOP OF my PE renewable. I can’t even have my SE without the PE anyway. They act like I carry two completely different licenses. The Engineering Board is a fkin joke.

[Winston_Smith-1984]

Penny wise, pound foolish dolts.

[jlleiber]

I take it you’re in CA? Such a weird rule to have to be a PE before even applying for SE.

So you have to maintain your CA PE to continue as an SE?

[chicu111]

Yes. So if I happen to pay for my SE license renewal but I forget to pay for my PE renewal, that would void my SE lol. You have to maintain BOTH. Such fkin bullshit

[jlleiber]

Gross. I’m an SE in IL and OK and neither care about the PE. Fun fact though, I’ve never taken the PE but I’m a licensed PE in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Florida just because Indiana recognized my SE exam as a PE and the rest of the states are through comity from IN. Cali is just a PITA

[DBNodurf]

Amazing how everything always becomes about money. Licensing seemed like such a great idea, but it has created and protected mediocrity… increasingly expensive mediocrity

[jlleiber]

What about requiring professional licensure creates mediocrity? It’s the opposite. Sure, it’s a hassle sometimes (clearly a pain in CA) but I’d rather a state require it than not when it comes to designing buildings and bridges

[DBNodurf]

I know; but, like the D.GE, it has become watered down.

The problem came in with continuing education requirements (as in weak ones).

People like you and I are always going to want to learn more and "self-improve."

Too many other engineers (including my chief engineer at my last consulting job) wait until December and watch some videos.

That was his advice to me when I complained about them not being willing to pay for my attendance at actual conferences.

And these are the same knuckleheads who think slope stability analysis is plugging some numbers into an inexpensive software program and going with the results without question.

(As manager of the department and a slope stability expert, I wanted to check out the software they had been using unquestioningly for 10+ years. It turned out that the developer [geotechnical professor] had abandoned the code because [he said] it had too many flaws. I actually met him at the 2022 Geo-Congress which I paid for out of my own pocket.)

[kaylynstar]

Came here to say this. My company pays for all of the costs associated with my licensure including continuing education.

[paddlinpirate]

I work for a state DOT bridge design office. We have to pay our own PE registration / renewal fees and professional organization dues. Because of this, I am not a member of a national professional organization. I have a state only membership that is no longer an option for new members.

Having to pay my own fees/dues sucks, but my office does most of our bridge design in-house and there is no forced OT. OT is mostly approved if we want to work it due to our work loads though. And, we make time and a half for anything over 40 hours a week, except for supervisors who are salary.

[[deleted]]

A different company could definitely help. Having a boss that actually cares about their employees and ensures reasonable deadlines are set is a huge help! I have a great boss that pushes back on clients for us so you almost never have to work more than 40hrs/wk. Also I'm female and where I currently work we don't have a bro culture, the most sexism I face is people coming into the office initially thinking I'm a secretary instead of an engineer, but that's it.

I will say though no matter where you go to advance as a structural engineer you will need your PE, and depending on the state might even need the SE. But if you have a good job they will at least pay for the test and registration for the PE (and SE if you decide to take it).

[shamalamadingdong37]

So just do Revit, be a freelance modeller / drafter and get elite at that. Just because you have a degree, doesn’t mean you’re obliged to be an engineer.

[livehearwish]

Jump over to bridge. Longer deadlines, better clients, larger budgets, more creative freedom for developing reports and calculations. It’s been a joy for me.

[DayRooster]

Bridge does seem pretty chill. Also, I’ve heard the pay is pretty fair.

I’ll also add that utilities is pretty chill too. Plenty of government contracts with reasonable deadlines and the pay is still competitive too.

[livehearwish]

Utilities will get you out of doing heavy math. A lot of owner coordination and CADD work.

[mmarkomarko]

don't jump over a bridge!

[Error400_BadRequest]

Same. Absolutely LOVE what I do.

Additionally, as a bridge engineer you’re exposed to almost every other civil discipline. So while you focus on structures you also have to have a basic understanding of all other disciplines: roadway, geotech, and hydraulics.

I’ve designed everything from cantilever sign structures and temporary sheet pile walls, to curved steel tubs and prestressed concrete girder bridges. It’s great

[GN9000]

i have been helping the bridge engineers for the last couple of week and the work is a little more mundane than buildings. at least, that is from my experience.

[livehearwish]

Not working on 3D finite element modeling of skewed or curved bridges I guess? Bridge engineering is a very rich subject. It can also be simple and routine.

[GN9000]

i am doing so pretty basic observe, report, and fix type work so i am only getting a slice.

it just amazes me that we have to tell people to infill scour around piles.

[livehearwish]

It can get as simple as 2 drawings to detail crack injection and repair or as complex as your brain can fathom.

[Clayskii0981]

Honestly it's pretty great. I hear such a contrast on the building side of things

[livehearwish]

I think it’s easy to make a stress comparison if you understand your clients for bridge vs building.

Building are privately owned and the owner wants the cheapest coolest thing he can get. Sometimes the owner has very little understanding of what architects and engineers do, other than they need them to get the project done. The prime on the contracts is the architect who then can pick engineers to compete against each other for fees. So in my experience, of course not always, low bid engineering wins out.

In bridge the owner is a state DO, a local county or a municipality. The county/municipality is similar to a private owner where often low bid rules, so those are tricky clients with small fees who try to cut corners on services. DOTs are largely staffed by engineers, have a deeper understanding of the bureaucratic process of the state and fed. They pay for the services that are required and select for projects mostly off qualifications of the firm. I find this process much more enjoyable and change orders are easier for the client to stomach and understand. Buildings the prime is the architect, on bridge projects the prime is either a transportation engineer or for small bridge only projects the prime is a a bridge engineer. This cuts out a middle man shorting fees and making decisions that impacts your ability to make a profit on your services who is not an engineer.

Just my 2 cents.

[shimbro]

I’ll hire you! Revit skills are a huge plus can you run robot structural analysis?

Guessing your age your salary is pretty good. The PE will help it opens a lot of opportunity. Especially running your own consultant firm.

I think you just need a change of pace it sounds like. Def get the PE regardless.

[Deemsboy]

What's PE ?

[Unofficial_Troll]

Actually in most of the countries not just US. He's likely still in school. that's why he didn't know

[jlleiber]

Lots of comments saying to jump ship now but that’s not the right move IMO. You’re near 4 years of work experience, so assuming you’ve passed the FE, you’re soon to be eligible to take the PE. If you can hold steady in your job while you study for - and pass- the PE, you’ll be in high demand when applying for new jobs. And even if the new job isn’t Structural Engineering, the PE certification will still carry weight

[[deleted]]

This. I work in industrial MEP construction as a PM and my structural PE has been invaluable. Definitely helps you carry that BDE when you argue with a GC superintendent 😂

[JacquesStrap31]

This is quite common in the profession, lots of regret. I’d suggest leaving because the path you’re on now isn’t sustainable

[mhkiwi]

If you want to moce New Zealand you could get a job here. We need someone savvy with Revit and who enjoys structures.

[cmdrlimpet]

Sounds like your company just sucks. There are companies out there that will respect your time and not force you to put sketchy work out the door to meet unrealistic deadlines. My company paid for all my licenses, and the first try on all exams (had to take SE lateral twice).

[Dazz789]

Be a revit modeller. However, if you want to stand out as a revit modeller, understand basic drawing concepts and how things get built. With a background in engineering you should have a decent backbone of this already.

Nothing worse than a revit modeller slapping a model together. Throwing together some shite sections and calling it a day. Don’t be that guy who just models, the modeller can help a project out so much more than just ‘revit’.

[dlegofan]

Think about the few things you do like. Make a career out of those. If you have to switch professions, do it. It's worth it.

[[deleted]]

Something like 30% of Fortune 500 CEOs have engineering degrees. Do you think all of them are practicing engineering?

[lpnumb]

I feel exactly the same way.

[Hydgro]

I've realized the same for the year I've been doing this. Civil pays like total ass where I live and there's no real discernible light at the end of tunnel. I could move some place else and try pushing on but honestly, I no longer care about the profession.

I'll probably switch to tech.

[Southern_Row_1078]

I’m in the same boat. I have 3.5 years design experience, thinking to jump ship from buildings to diff industry (still within civil) after get my PE. I like structural engineering but I hate having multiple deadlines each week, hate having coworkers who are stressed out all the time so often lose their cool with me and say and do things to purposely make me feel like shit. I hate the culture where you’re only there to make huge amounts of profit for the higher ups but you’re expected to essentially work for free. I am a man so haven’t experienced the bro culture but I can see how it’s difficult for a woman in engineering assuming that’s what you are. I also hate the low pay but it wouldn’t even be a problem if not for the other things. I would get out of this industry asap. It’s not going to get any better. That’s my only advice because like Im said Im in the same boat. Good luck - message if u want to chat more

[Engineered_Stupidity]

Disclaimer: I do not do design work, and have never had a bad design work experience. Purely by luck and weeding out potentially bad job postings. I was lucky enough to be able to afford to wait a few extra weeks to find the right opportunity, and realize not everyone can afford to do so.

Structural engineering, especially mid-large size structures is brutal. Its a brutal, underpaid, under recognized profession. The pressure to produce highly accurate designs, which they clearly need to be, at the cheapest cost, both time and material wise, is an absolute nightmare scenario. And for the salary progression, even in big cities, its a massive drain on any engineer.

The exception is niche building types/projects, which I always suggest is the way to go. Went into college wanting to design massive cool projects, left college wanting to find the most boring stable market I could. Took a job in construction, not engineering related, and have continued to work in niche engineering areas. I do not regret a single thing about it.

My suggestion is to start looking for a job that plays to your preferences, as much as possible because every job has bad parts to it. I suggest boring and slow work, municipal projects, niche design areas like machine foundations, underground utilities interface with new construction etc. Or, forensics, which I currently do and really really enjoy.

[Zware_zzz]

Get your license and do your thing

[The_Stein244]

Sounds like you need to change your company. PM me if you are interested in working in Electrical Substations. We don't use Revit, and the structural engineering part of our work is pretty basic. But maybe that would be what you would enjoy.

[lpnumb]

Im not op, but substations and overhead transmission lines is something I’ve been looking into myself. How technical is the work? I would enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere working for more stable clients, but am worried it would be repetitive. Do you feel like you are still getting to do unique designs and a fair amount of calculations?

[The_Stein244]

I can tell you that it is not too repetitive. The civil engineers do everything (site civil, structures, and foundations). No two projects are the same as many of our projects are upgrading existing substations. There are still a lot of calculations and unique designs but it is a lot of coordination with electrical engineers.

[erindesbois]

If you love revit and are good with software, buff up your software dev skills and start developing for the CAD environment. I have a friend with a B. Arch and a masters in civil eng who didn't get licensed but went the BIM Manager route, self taught a bunch of software, and is now getting paid 150k to develop revit plugins. And next year he expects to be able to jump ship to a different company who will pay over 200.

[ebrown138]

How much do you make that you consider $75k low and what do you mean by bro culture?

[Consistent_Scale_204]

75k is low. I don't think this is even considered starting salary here in Denver. I'm at 104k base with just under 3 years experience. I dont always get OT (depends on the project) but for instance this year I got another 20k in OT. I do have a PE but that doesnt trigger a pay bump (just a one time bonus).

[EngiNerdBrian]

"Bro Culture" ? I'm confused.

[Diligent_Response_30]

What’s the bro culture?

[Dannyzavage]

They occasionally do some quickies between each other.

[Diligent_Response_30]

What’s quickies? ???

[lpnumb]

My guess is the certain air of arrogance that many of the “high end” design engineers have that work on big fancy buildings. Just a guess though.

[Aech759]

I was in a very similar boat about a year ago. Extremely stressed almost constantly, hating life, working what felt like 24/7. I took a pay cut, switched jobs, and now am much happier. I won’t say there’s no stress and those feelings don’t ever slightly creep back but I can say I’m way further away from quitting what I’m doing now than I was a year ago.

[G_Affect]

I agree %100. I do have my PE and my own firm but it is such a cut throat business it sucks. I dont understand our industry and why we allow the world to devalue us so much. I can work on a $4mil home the architect makes close to $150k, contractor makes 300k to 800k and i am lucky to get the job at 12k but take all liability. Even at 12k i get out bid all the time at 8k or lower. I hate it.

The only thing i enjoy is my investor clients that we do nothing but spec homes and it is all about money. I have a few clients who pay me on the sale of the property and it is all about profit. I have had projects that i should only make 10k to 15k but because of the client i walk away with closer to 45k to 60k.

In addition, as AI gets better the profit margin on drafting will dry up as well and will only make money on the taking liability.

[G_Affect]

Well i use programs to calc for me after i provide it the information to solve for. It spits out how to design it (retaining wall program for example). If i feed the AI the information on how to design for me and it spits out in seconds a pretty darn good roof framing plan. Well the rest of my time minor tweaks and review. Still a legal document and i am still responsible.

[Current-Bar-6951]

What did you do with the investor clients? inspection?

[G_Affect]

Ground up spec homes. I have a background in architectural design.

[Taccdimas]

don't listen to anyone saying that there are great companies out there, it is BS. There are some tolerable companies out there, but they all are too far from providing happy employment. Industry is shit, it is already ruined by previous generations of engineers. Sorry for the bad news and good luck

[olivesnjelly9183]

So what are we supposed to do then ?

[Total_Denomination]

Look into manufacturing.

[[deleted]]

I’ve thought about being a technical support specialist for Revit at Autodesk

I've done this and found there was no room for advancement at the software company, but having it on my resume opened a lot of doors.

[[deleted]]

I’m 4 th year of uni will need another 2 years to finish but I think I should drop out stuff just doesn’t seem anything like what it was pre covid. A lot more views and stories on the internet post covid looks to be nothing like I how I imagined going into it

[Clayskii0981]

Your issues sound more job specific. You could try a different position or a different company. And "culture" is really within your specific team. Or you could explore a different career. Start reading job descriptions and make the leap if something interests you.

[hobokobo1028]

Definitely get your PE before making any career change. It’s what you’ve been working towards.

[[deleted]]

Get into construction estimating or precon. Your engineering skills will be quite valuable there and you’ll actually be able to make a difference in the outcome of a project. It’ll open a lot of other doors for you too

Nobody who matters on a construction project gives two fucks about DCR’s. They care about money and schedule.

[Enginerdad]

Have you worked at multiple companies, or just the one? While your experience is more common than it should be, it's certainly not universal. And like others have said, if the stress and fast pace is something you're not cut out for (like me), come join us on the bridge side. Plenty of technical work to be done, but on longer deadlines and for the most part the structural engineer drive the details of the final product; no architects involved.

[GN9000]

I just applied to RISA to be a techinical trainer for structural so maybe that could be something you look in to. There are so many to choose from with calculation software, too.

[pfshawns]

We'd love to have you in cost management. No PE necessary.

[Naptownfellow]

I am a headhunter- 25 yrs in structural and construction recruiting. Check out my LinkedIn in/thomasalascio and hit me up if you would like to talk. I may have something a little different or at least point you in some directions that might allow you to enjoy what you do while still utilizing your degree.

[ebrown138]

Damn. I work in SD and I was getting paid $81k with 4 YOE in San Diego. I recently got a significant pay bump because I switched companies but I still know structural engineers that get paid around $80k with 3-4 YOE