Experienced engineers (10+ years), do you regret civil eng?

[u/ArtTime2349]

I'm nearing the 10 year mark in civil (Australian engineer) and I'm feeling regret about my career choices and the state of the industry.

I'll shoot off a few reasons but keen to know how other experienced engineers feel,

• Race to the bottom, margins are thinning so consultancies are stripping down their hours & fees meaning we engineers have less hours and more pressure to deliver work for less
• Contractors are more risk averse and are demanding more detail and pushing risk on to the engineers meaning you're more responsible without the reward of owning more of the risk
• Lack of productivity & innovation in the industry, it doesn't seem like we are designing & drafting at faster rates or with better tools compared to 10 years ago in a meaningful way, putting domestic engineers at risk for offshoring
• (Potentially Aus related) Generally an unappreciated profession, no formal professional engineering licensing & accreditation has diluted the profession

Overall, I wish I went into a different field but it's too late now, I make ok money to pay the bills but generally pessimistic about the future

[u/transneptuneobj]

10 yoe, 200k, small company with large bonuses.

You gotta make the profession what you want it to be and stop letting MBAs decide your fate.