Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Architects
Architects plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.
Table of contents
What they do
Architects plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.
- Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
- Plan or design structures such as residences, office buildings, theatres, factories, or other structural properties in accordance with environmental, safety, or other regulations.
- Direct activities of technicians engaged in preparing drawings or specification documents.
- Prepare contract documents for building contractors.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Architects design or plan the construction of green building projects to minimize the adverse environmental impact or conserve energy. They plan or design structures such as residences, office buildings, theatres, factories, or other structural properties in accordance with environmental, safety, or other regulations.
A typical day for an Architect will also include:
- Design structures that incorporate environmentally friendly building practices or concepts, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
- Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
- Direct activities of technicians engaged in preparing drawings or specification documents.
- Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
- Administer construction contracts.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Architects also conduct periodic on-site observations of construction work to monitor compliance with plans. They may also meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Architects monitor the work of specialists, such as electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, interior designers, or sound specialists to ensure optimal form or function of designs or final structures. They might also calculate potential energy savings by comparing the estimated energy consumption of the proposed design to baseline standards.
In addition, they gather information related to projects’ environmental sustainability or operational efficiency.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
To some Architects, it is also their responsibility to develop marketing materials, proposals, or presentations to generate new work opportunities.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
70% said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they found their job meaningful.
As an architect working for a private office, my role included responsibilities such as developing and presenting construction documentation, creating 3D models and presenting them to the client. I also researched materials used for construction and wrote their technical specifications. I usually managed several projects at the same time. Less often, my scope of responsibilities … Read More
I’m the type of person that needs a fair amount of action and variety in my life. While being involved in projects from conception to completion is the primary function of being an architect, I also have incredibly varied experiences from day to day that keep me interested and engaged in my career. While at … Read More
Being an architect comes with great responsibility and reward as the design is going to be around for a very long time and it is important to have a holistic approach when designing. Implementing sustainable practices is also an important aspect to ensure the impact on the environment is as minimal as possible. It’s more … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to work with designs.
Suitable for people who want independence and like to work on their own and make decisions.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Architects with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $49,950 to $63,420 per year or $24 to $30 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $136,310 | $66 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $106,680 | $51 |
| Median | $82,320 | $40 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $63,420 | $30 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $49,950 | $24 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Architects based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $121520 | $58.42 |
| Land Subdivision | $109990 | $52.88 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $109580 | $52.68 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $105710 | $50.82 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $102300 | $49.18 |
| Federal Executive Branch | $101870 | $48.97 |
| Employment Services | $101100 | $48.61 |
| Local Government | $100810 | $48.47 |
| Real Estate | $100050 | $48.10 |
| Postal Service (Federal Government) | $97730 | $46.98 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Architects work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Architects including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 90340 | $88660 | $42.63 |
| Residential Building Construction | 1860 | $83410 | $40.10 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 1460 | $101870 | $48.97 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 1120 | $93280 | $44.84 |
| Specialized Design Services | 1110 | $91600 | $44.04 |
| Local Government | 1100 | $100810 | $48.47 |
| Real Estate | 840 | $100050 | $48.10 |
| State Government | 760 | $92430 | $44.44 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 740 | $94480 | $45.42 |
| Employment Services | 710 | $101100 | $48.61 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Architecture
Architectural Design
Environmental Design/Architecture
Architectural History and Criticism
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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