Will AI Replace Structural Engineer?
Structural Engineer faces a 36% AI displacement risk. This role has strong human-centric elements that are difficult to automate. The median salary is $99,590, with AI projected to shift compensation by +5%. Our analysis covers timeline, adaptation strategies, and skills that remain valuable.
Source: What About AI? Career Assessment ·
AI Impact Verdict: Structural Engineer
Risk Level:LOW (36%)•Timeline:10-20 years (estimate based on industry trends)
Based on our analysis, Structural Engineer has a LOW risk (36%) of being displaced by AI. While AI tools will augment and change how this work is done, the core human elements of this role—creativity, empathy, complex problem-solving, and interpersonal skills—make it resistant to full automation.
Engineering & Architecture • Updated January 2026
Your Risk Without AI Skills
AI is starting to change how this job is done
AI isn't replacing jobs—people using AI are replacing people who don't
36%
SOME RISK
What this means: AI is starting to change how this job is done. Workers who learn AI tools now will have an advantage as the shift accelerates.
Full Replacement
33%probability
Complete job elimination risk
Timeline
10-20 years (estimate based on industry trends)
When major changes expected
Replaced By
AI
Primary automation technology
What Experts Say
"AI is not going to replace structural engineers, but structural engineers who use AI will replace those who don't. The tools that automate routine calculations free us to focus on the creative and safety-critical judgment that defines our profession."
Structural Engineer Salary & AI Impact on Pay
Compensation Overview
$99,590
Median Annual Salary (2024)
$65,920$160,990
10th percentile90th percentile
+5%Upward pressure from AI
Structural engineering's deep ties to public safety, building codes, and physical inspection limit AI disruption. AI tools like Thornton Tomasetti's Asterisk accelerate design iteration, but professional engineers must stamp and verify all structural calculations, maintaining strong demand for human expertise.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Structural Engineer Task Breakdown: What AI Can & Can't Do
AI Can Handle
- Structural Member SizingAI tools like Thornton Tomasetti's Asterisk incorporate geometry, loading criteria, and material properties to rapidly generate member sizes, structural quantities, and embodied carbon takeoffs that previously required hours of manual calculation.
- Load Path AnalysisMachine learning models trained on thousands of structural designs can predict optimal load paths and identify stress concentrations in complex geometries faster than traditional finite element analysis workflows.
- Drawing Production & DetailingAI-powered BIM tools automate the generation of structural drawings, connection details, and reinforcement schedules from 3D models, reducing repetitive drafting work by up to 70%.
Human + AI Together
- Structural Health MonitoringAI processes continuous data streams from embedded sensors to identify structural wear and damage in real-time, while engineers interpret results, assess remaining service life, and design rehabilitation strategies.
- Performance-Based Seismic DesignAI rapidly simulates thousands of earthquake scenarios and structural responses, enabling engineers to explore innovative seismic-resistant designs and evaluate performance trade-offs that would be impractical to analyze manually.
- Embodied Carbon OptimizationAI evaluates structural design options based on embodied carbon alongside cost and performance, helping engineers meet aggressive sustainability targets while maintaining structural integrity and code compliance.
Uniquely Human
- Professional Engineering Judgment & StampingLicensed Professional Engineers must review, approve, and stamp all structural designs, bearing legal liability for public safety. This professional gatekeeping function cannot be delegated to AI under any jurisdiction's engineering practice laws.
- Forensic Structural InvestigationInvestigating structural failures requires physical site inspection, materials testing, crack pattern interpretation, and expert testimony that combines hands-on assessment with engineering experience AI cannot replicate.
- Construction Administration & Field ObservationVerifying that structures are built according to design intent requires on-site observation, real-time problem-solving when field conditions differ from plans, and coordination with contractors that demands human presence.
36%
Displacement Risk
Engineering & Architecture
Industry
Task-Based
Role Type
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace structural engineer?
Based on our analysis, Structural Engineer has a LOW risk (36%) of being displaced by AI. While AI tools will augment and change how this work is done, the core human elements of this role—creativity, empathy, complex problem-solving, and interpersonal skills—make it resistant to full automation.
What is the AI displacement risk for structural engineer?
Our analysis shows Structural Engineer has a 36% AI displacement risk score, categorized as Low Risk. This measures the risk of being outcompeted by AI-literate workers if you don't adapt. The full replacement probability is 33%.
How can structural engineer professionals prepare for AI?
Key strategies include: Master AI-powered structural analysis and generative design tools. Develop expertise in climate resilience and extreme event engineering. See our full adaptation guide below for more actionable recommendations.
What structural engineer tasks can AI automate?
AI is already impacting structural engineer in several ways: AI-powered structural analysis enables complex calculations in seconds that once took days. Looking ahead: Routine structural calculations will be fully automated, with AI generating designs.
What is the average salary for structural engineer and how will AI affect it?
The median salary for Structural Engineer is $99,590, with a range from $65,920 to $160,990 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2024). AI is projected to shift compensation by +5%. Structural engineering's deep ties to public safety, building codes, and physical inspection limit AI disruption. AI tools like Thornton Tomasetti's Asterisk accelerate design iteration, but professional engineers must stamp and verify all structural calculations, maintaining strong demand for human expertise.
Which structural engineer skills are most resistant to AI automation?
The most AI-resistant skills for Structural Engineer include: Professional Engineering Judgment & Stamping — Licensed Professional Engineers must review, approve, and stamp all structural designs, bearing legal liability for public safety. This professional gatekeeping function cannot be delegated to AI under any jurisdiction's engineering practice laws. Forensic Structural Investigation — Investigating structural failures requires physical site inspection, materials testing, crack pattern interpretation, and expert testimony that combines hands-on assessment with engineering experience AI cannot replicate. Construction Administration & Field Observation — Verifying that structures are built according to design intent requires on-site observation, real-time problem-solving when field conditions differ from plans, and coordination with contractors that demands human presence.
AI Impact Timeline for Structural Engineer
What's Already Happening (Past 3 Years)
- AI-powered structural analysis enables complex calculations in seconds that once took days
- Generative design creates optimized structures that exceed human-designed efficiency
- BIM integration with AI identifies structural conflicts before construction
- Digital twins monitor structural health in real-time using sensor networks
- Machine learning predicts structural behavior under extreme loads with improved accuracy
What's Coming (2-5 Year Outlook)
- Routine structural calculations will be fully automated, with AI generating designs
- Engineers will focus on innovative structures, complex projects, and safety validation
- Climate resilience and sustainable structures will be major growth areas
- AI will enable more ambitious structures than traditional methods allowed
- Professional responsibility and certification will maintain human oversight requirements
Research-Backed Timeline for Structural Engineer
2-4 yearsResearch
AI-specific funding captured 46% of Q1 2025 construction tech capital, up from 20-25% in prior years, with structural design tools like generative design and automated code checking reaching mainstream adoption in AEC firms
Source: Autodesk Research
5-8 yearsExpert Estimate
AI will transform structural engineering from prescriptive code-based design to performance-based optimization, but responsible AI frameworks and professional liability requirements will slow autonomous adoption in safety-critical applications
Source: Frontiers in Built Environment
5-7 yearsIndustry Trend
AI in construction market growing from $3.99 billion in 2024 to $11.85 billion by 2029 at 24.31% CAGR, with structural analysis and design optimization among the highest-adoption segments within engineering applications
Source: ResearchandMarkets
How to Prepare: Adaptation Strategies for Structural Engineer
- 1Master AI-powered structural analysis and generative design tools
- 2Develop expertise in climate resilience and extreme event engineering
- 3Build skills in sustainable materials and low-carbon structure design
- 4Focus on complex, unique structures where innovation and judgment are essential
- 5Maintain professional certifications that require human accountability
- 6Develop forensic engineering skills for structural failure investigation
Companies Already Using AI in Structural Engineer Roles
Thornton Tomasetti2024
Developed Asterisk, an AI-powered structural design tool that enables rapid design iteration by incorporating geometry, wind and seismic loading, vibration criteria, and material customization to instantly generate member sizes, quantities, and embodied carbon outputs
Source: Structure Magazine
Arup2024
Conducted global survey of 5,000 AEC professionals finding 36% already use AI daily for structural design, deployed AI for structural health monitoring of bridges and offshore wind turbines, and released intelligent structural design software with PKPM for the Chinese market
Source: Arup Global Survey / Arup Newsroom
Deep Dives: Podcasts & Guides
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JAAI Strategy Consultant • Updated 2026
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