Pay
Engineering is an above average line of work and civil engineers are no exception. The median pay was $82,710 as of May 2011, according to the Bureau. The top 10 percent of engineers earned an average of $119,620. Engineers in larger areas who work on more critical projects often make more, as do engineers in management positions. Owning your own company is another way to earn higher pay.
Creativity
Engineers have the unique ability to combine strong technical competence with creative designing. They need to know the ins and outs of building construction, including electrical and plumbing systems and functional workings. However, engineers often love the challenge of making plans that balance functional value with aesthetic appeal. In communities that emphasize contemporary design structure, engineers often renovate or rebuild more creative structures where older, more traditional structures once stood.
Field Work
Civil engineers do spend some time in their offices planning, making appointments and participating in meetings. However, much of their work time is spent outdoors at work sites where they monitor buildings and projects and resolve project issues. The nature of the work keeps civil engineers active and on the move. It is also dynamic, which means each project has its own distinct design challenges and operational issues. Engineers also get to work closely with contractors, architects and workers.
Importance
Civil engineers are central figures in community development. Without their unique talents, communities would not grow and prosper. Buildings and roads provide the basis of city infrastructure. Engineers not only provide them, but they use their skills to optimize performance and efficiency of community systems. They also develop water and sewer systems that balance safety standards with delivery of water and sewer processing, which are key functions in city operation and residents' health and comfort.
Architecture Engineering is about the designing part of the building, monument while the Civil engineering is more about planning and building buildings, roads, highways & dams etc. Architecture has got less job options but once you get a start in the initial days then there is so much of growth in terms of pay. In case of Civil engineering there are more jobs and also the pay scale is good. Specially when you gain 2-3 years of experience salary goes very high.
Architecture needs a more innovative and a person with designing skills (not very much a little bit is enough) as there is much of designing side in the course. While in Civil Engineering you will have to focus on building new things.
Now, you should scratch your head and find out your area of interest.
Architecture is generally to do with buildings (though it is involved with bridges etc as well). Architecture is primarily about what a building looks like and how it is used. On a typical building project the architect takes the lead, and pulls together various other people who make the building work. You would have: a civil/structural engineer to make sure it stands up; a mechanical and electrical engineer to look at things like the air conditioning and electrical supplies; a cost consultant to make sure that it isn't too expensive and sort out contracts with the builder; and various others dependent on the project.
A civil engineer can get involved with designing buildings, but they also do roads and bridges as you say, and other stuff like drainage. Engineers tend to end up specialising in certain areas. There is a lot of maths involved, and is quite a different job to being an architect, though both concern the built environment. It just depends what you want to do and where your skills are.
In terms of job prospects I would say they are similar. Architects have a longer degree and have to do more after their degree to be properly registered so I think there is more work involved there. To progress it's the same as any other career - you can make it if you are good and put the effort in.
I started an Architecture degree and stopped after my first year because it was too arty farty. I went on to study physics.
If you enjoy being creative then great, but if you do need the mathematics/techincal side of things to really get engaged, don't kid yourself - Architecture truly isn't an engineering discipline.
Civil engineers is a broad term that simply sets apart civilian engineering from military engineers, but as you have used it, it has come to mean 'structural engineers' etc.
Architects are mainly to do with aesthetic aspects of a building, whilst an engineer would be more concerned with structure, waste, energy etc.
As for salary, there is opportunity to become successful in both areas, but you really must choose what you think is more interesting!
I studied 3 years of Architecture, its all about design, utilization of space, aesthetic consideration, etc. If that's what you want, go for it. But for me, i shifted from Architecture to Mechanical Engineering simply because I feel Architecture is too "conceptual" , i dont know how to explain it, . When it comes to salary, both are equall, but when it comes to Job availability, Engineering is always on demand, and accdg to yahoo, Architecture is #1 hated degree
Engineering if you want some real education
So my perception is architecture is about designing buildings where's as civil engineering is about designing roads bridges etc and involves more math. My question is what are the pros and cons of each regarding salary (with exp and circumstance i.e your own firm) Job availability & security and if you "can" work your way to the top. Thanks
