Occupation
Structural engineer
Structural engineers work out how buildings, bridges, and other structures carry load and resist wind, snow, seismic, and soil forces. Much of the job is analysis and detailing, followed by checking that what gets built matches what was designed.
Also known as: Structural design engineer · Building structures engineer
Occupation content
Part of Engineering and technical design
What the work involves
- Build analysis models of frames, foundations, and connections and interpret the results.
- Size beams, columns, slabs, and connections in steel, concrete, timber, or masonry.
- Produce structural drawings and detail sheets alongside architects and building services teams.
- Check shop drawings and fabrication details submitted by contractors and suppliers.
- Inspect structures during construction or assess existing structures for alteration or repair.
- Document design assumptions, load paths, and code references in calculation packages.
How people commonly enter
- An accredited bachelor's degree in civil or structural engineering.
- A postgraduate structural engineering degree taken after a general civil engineering degree.
- A graduate engineer position in a structural consultancy, combined with a supervised experience record toward professional registration.
- An engineering technology diploma in civil or building technology followed by a bridging route into the engineering stream.
Typical training: Bachelor's degree
Licensing: Regulated in most jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Typical work context
Team based · Desk based · Quiet focus · Client sites · High responsibility
Related interests
Investigative (analytical) · Realistic (hands-on)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Engineering and technical design.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Civil engineers · United States
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- O*NET OnLine — occupation search: structural engineer · United States
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- Employment and Social Development Canada — National Occupational Classification (NOC) · Canada
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Engineering and technical design in Canada, not a figure for Structural engineer. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Engineering and technical design family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Engineering and technical design: education pathways
Some roles in Engineering and technical design may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Engineering and technical design: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)