How To Become A Structural Designer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a structural designer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

As a structural designer, your job is to create sketches and digital blueprints of construction projects. You'll work closely with project architects, engineers, and even project managers. While the architect focuses on the building's aesthetics and framework, your job is to ensure that the completed project is structurally sound, safe, and functional. You ensure that it can bear all the load it needs to and more.

You'll also work on projects like bridges, tunnels, and even ships. While doing your job, you'll consider factors like the materials used, the structure's design, and external elements like the wind and possible earthquakes.

The job of a structural designer is highly complex, and it requires a wealth of skills. Some of these include structural analysis, communication, and teamwork. Typical education for these professionals includes bachelor's and maybe masters' degrees in structural engineering and related fields.

ScoreStructural DesignerUS Average

Salary

4.9

Avg. Salary $63,273

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 12.81%

Black or African American 4.00%

Hispanic or Latino 11.71%

Unknown 4.70%

White 66.48%

Gender

female 12.65%

male 87.35%

Age - 39

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 - 39

Stress level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a structural designer

Explore structural designer education requirements

Most common structural designer degrees

Bachelor's

45.9 %

Associate

39.0 %

Master's

6.6 %

Start to develop specific structural designer skills

Skills	Percentages
Revit	14.41%
Structural Design	10.15%
BIM	5.46%
Navisworks	5.00%
Ladders	4.21%

Complete relevant structural designer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New structural designers 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 structural designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real structural designer resumes.

Research structural designer duties and responsibilities

Field route pipe systems; manage line and pipe support list; ISO s for fabrication / installation.
Assure compliance with refinery and OSHA safety requirements in selecting, locating and hookup of equipment.
Develop record system, QA & QC policies and procedures, peer review system to reduce installation errors.
Provide general arrangement, detail, and design drawings of ladders, platforms, and frame structure for the following projects.

Prepare your structural designer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your structural designer 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 structural designer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable structural designer resume templates

Build a professional structural designer 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 structural designer resume.

Apply for structural designer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a structural designer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first structural designer job

Mohamed-Abdul King

Structural Designer

I started as a Drafter with the JDI Group back in the Spring of 2022 on my 4th co-op rotation where I learned a lot about structural engineering and designing and fell in love with it. During my time as a co-op I enjoyed and loved what I was doing and the team I was doing it with, so I decided to return upon my graduation in the Fall of 2022. I graduated with a Bachelor in Construction Engineering Technology (CET). Ended up choosing the path of a structural designer/engineer that aligns more with my goal and passion of one day building my own home. I have been with the company for 2 years now and I am still learning as if I am a fresh co-op. And the colleagues I work with are amazing. So, that’s a plus. I have worked on many projects in the two years I have been with the company. Mainly, designing and engineering PEMB and platform structures. My current two favorites, have given me great knowledge of foundation designs and calculations. There is still so much more for me to learn and I can’t wait!