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The differences between civil engineers and environmental engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a civil engineer, becoming an environmental engineer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an environmental engineer has an average salary of $75,718, which is higher than the $70,950 average annual salary of a civil engineer.
The top three skills for a civil engineer include civil 3d, engineering design and cost estimates. The most important skills for an environmental engineer are environmental compliance, project management, and OSHA.
| Civil Engineer | Environmental Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,950 | $75,718 |
| Hourly rate | $34.11 | $36.40 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 26,803 | 24,787 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 41 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
A civil engineer designs and supervises the construction of large-scale public works projects such as buildings, roads, tunnels, highways, airports, bridges, dams, and other substantial infrastructure. Most civil engineers work in the private industry, but some work for a government organization. Their output is almost everywhere. Many of them specialize in a specific project or practice a target profession such as in transportation, structural engineering, or geotechnical engineering. They oftentimes work at project sites, as they monitor the ongoing construction.
Environmental engineers use the principles of science, biology, engineering, and chemistry to create solutions to certain environmental problems. They primarily work to improve waste disposal, public health, recycling, and to control water and air pollution. It is also their responsibility to address global issues, such as climate change, unsafe drinking water, and environmental sustainability. They typically prepare and review environmental investigation reports so that documents and permits are updated and in compliance with environmental regulations.
Civil engineers and environmental engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Civil Engineer | Environmental Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,950 | $75,718 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $97,000 | Between $58,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Energy |
There are a few differences between a civil engineer and an environmental engineer in terms of educational background:
| Civil Engineer | Environmental Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of California, Berkeley |
Here are the differences between civil engineers' and environmental engineers' demographics:
| Civil Engineer | Environmental Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% | Male, 70.5% Female, 29.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 15.6% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.9% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 13% |