Can everyone become an engineer?

No, not everyone can become an engineer. It takes time, dedication and a bachelor's degree from an accredited engineering program at a college or university. After graduating, you can get licensed to work as a Professional Engineer.

How long does it take to get a building engineering degree?

It takes two to four years to get a building engineering degree. Prospective building engineers have the option to earn either an associate's or bachelor's degree. With that said, given enough experience, a candidate with no college degree can become a building engineer.

What is the difference between civil engineering and building engineering?

The difference between civil engineering and building engineering comes down to the scope and responsibilities of each role. Building engineers, for instance, focus more on the construction and maintenance of building structures, while Civil engineers, on the other hand, focus more on infrastructure and specific, more specialized projects.

What is a building engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Libby Toping

A building engineer is an individual responsible for the maintenance, repair, and operation of a building's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Building engineers work with contractors and vendors to manage repairs and upgrades, maintain accurate records of work completed, and monitor energy usage to optimize efficiency. They also ensure that the building meets all safety codes and regulations. Building engineers must have strong problem-solving skills and strong communication skills. .

What general advice would you give to a building engineer?

Libby Toping

Engineer intern, Crafton Tull

It has definitely been a unique time to start my first job. COVID-19 has caused many of my peers to struggle to find a job, so I think it has caused me to recognize how thankful I am to have a job that I enjoy working and that allows me to improve my community, even in the midst of a pandemic. There are certainly struggles with virtual meetings and mask-wearing, but learning to be flexible and adaptable are skills that I think will make me a better engineer in the long run!

ScoreBuilding EngineerUS Average

Salary

6.0

Avg. Salary $76,446

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.6

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.16%

Asian 4.48%

Black or African American 10.62%

Hispanic or Latino 20.16%

Unknown 4.24%

White 59.34%

Gender

female 5.42%

male 94.58%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress level

7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a building engineer?

Pros

Job security
Good pay and benefits
Opportunities for advancement
Hands-on work with mechanical systems
Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems

Cons

High stress and pressure to maintain building operations
Dealing with difficult tenants or clients
Inconsistent work schedules
Need for continuous learning and staying up-to-date with evolving technology
Limited social interaction during work hours

Key steps to become a building engineer

Explore building engineer education requirements

Most common building engineer degrees

Bachelor's

31.6 %

Associate

23.5 %

High School Diploma

20.0 %

Start to develop specific building engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
HVAC	12.77%
Ladders	12.23%
Plumbing	11.52%
Preventive Maintenance	10.07%
Emergency Situations	9.39%

Complete relevant building engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New building engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a building engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real building engineer resumes.

Gain additional building engineer certifications

Building engineer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific building engineer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for building engineers include EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) and OSHA Safety Certificate .

More About Certifications

Research building engineer duties and responsibilities

Coordinate with team leads to determine needs and how best to implement JIRA within department.
Create python script to automate the deployment process which deploys the application and restarts the servers.
Manage service MEP vendor contracts (elevators, fire life support, annual test and inspections).
Manage and sustain manufacturing processes via monitoring, SPC, and data analysis to maintain overall process health and stability.

Prepare your building engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your building engineer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a building engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable building engineer resume templates

Build a professional building engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your building engineer resume.