A hydraulic engineer is an individual who specializes in the maintenance and repair of dams, bridges, and canals and may work with machines and equipment that utilize hydraulic power. These professionals may also work with water and sewage services and help design projects that are related to the movement and control of water and other liquids. Hydraulic engineers must have a strong understanding of water systems and are responsible for designing dams, drainage systems, and levees for governments and communities.
Hydraulic engineers assist in water resources and flood control planning and must be sure to adhere to environmental regulations and standards. They also create deep foundation and flood control structure designs and communicate with clients and governing bodies to address their concerns about stormwater, sewage, and soil erosion. These professionals work in an office environment but will frequently travel to worksites to supervise construction, maintenance, and repairs.
Most hydraulic engineers have a degree in engineering or a related field, and most career opportunities are available in government and private companies. These professionals can make up to $81,000 annually in the US, and the job field is expected to grow 5% by 2028.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a Hydraulic Engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $41.01 an hour? That's $85,291 a year!
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 12,800 job opportunities across the U.S.
There are certain skills that many Hydraulic Engineers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed Creativity, Listening skills and Math skills.
If you're interested in becoming a Hydraulic Engineer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 66.8% of Hydraulic Engineers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 20.5% of Hydraulic Engineers have master's degrees. Even though most Hydraulic Engineers have a college degree, it's impossible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a Hydraulic Engineer. When we researched the most common majors for a Hydraulic Engineer, we found that they most commonly earn Bachelor's Degree degrees or Master's Degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on Hydraulic Engineer resumes include Associate Degree degrees or Doctoral Degree degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a Hydraulic Engineer. In fact, many Hydraulic Engineer jobs require experience in a role such as Project Engineer. Meanwhile, many Hydraulic Engineers also have previous career experience in roles such as Design Engineer or Engineer.