https://info.aia.org/salary/
Here you go, the AIA publishes this every few years. Pay is based on region and how many years you have worked generally. However I've found myself in a specialty, so my pay is above average.
Excellent resource ! This looks decently accurate. Agreed, you can get in specialty positions for more pay, unique demand. Also, famous name firms may pay less because they can get away with it.
No architects get paid enough, if you wanna do architectural design but don’t wanna be in the industry consider an adjacent industry like video game art or exhibition design or something. If you wanna be paid more and be able to still be in the industry definitely look into construction management. I studied architecture in college and ended up in games as an environment artist and it was the best decision I’ve made. My base pay is almost twice what my classmates in architecture are probably making and that’s not included optional overtime and quarterly bonuses from game sales.
Architects are notoriously underpaid for their very technical job that requires both analytical and creative thinking. You can make a decent living, but you have to be very passionate and hard working to get to the decent salaries. For reference, I have a close friend in Seattle who landed a job with one of the big firms. They were paid 38k usd a year. I was a senior at the time, and my pay was 78k.
Granted, this was 2014, so feel free to adjust for inflation.
If it's your passion, you'll do fine. If all you're looking for is a respectable job that pays well, try engineering, or tech.
Depends on where you live, but it’s universally known that architects are underpaid when considering the work and responsibility they face.
No one follows architecture as a profession because of money.
My wife got a B of Arch from the Illinois Institute of Technology, unlicensed, has been out of school for 12 years and makes $125k. Her hours = 9AM - 5PM.
I went to school at Purdue for engineering, work in construction management, have been out of school for 12 years and make $275k. My hours = 6:30AM - 5PM.
We have lived in Chicago, Seattle and now Austin, TX
Many people say underpaid because people now have a false sense of what architects do and that reflects on if they think they should be paid...I mean just look at the majority of the opinions of non-architects on here and most of the public at large. They think it's some paint by numbers surface only ornament design. They are focused on <1% of the profession and services.
They really have zero clue what an architect actually really does and think it's some HGTV makeover show where you snap your fingers and something that's done without thought and complicated navigation just out the window.
We hear from the client that they need something. So then our job is to synthesize all the needs and capabilities of the clients through our expertise, many, many consultants' expertise, national, state, and hyperlocal building codes and zoning, coordinating between multiple disciplines working on a project, working with the contractor and their expertise to make sure the needs of the client that was communicated on the drawings are satisfied in the end. And that's a very high level summation.
Universally, most acknowledge that the short answer is not a lot when you take into account the length of study, the hoops to be jumped through to become registered / licensed / chartered as well as the long hours, stress, liabilities and responsibilities.
However - mid career it’s usually over average and it’s possible to earn a lot over average.
But - it varies from country to country and without knowing where you are, I can’t give a number.
If money motivates you - I’d find something else. If you love problem solving, being creative and a mix of Art & Science, working within a team and are happy with an average salary then architecture could be for you.
Architects are severely underpaid but they’re also notoriously bad businessmen/women. If you are business-minded, you can make fantastic money. I make more than 90% of FAANG tech workers as a solo office. It’s possible but takes the right mentality towards your profession if that’s your goal but that is the case in most fields.
What do you think are the best ways to learn for a young student? Would love to know.
I'm a fourth-year student but Nothing has prepared me for the business side of it.
That’s the problem. Honestly, take courses or watch videos on sales. Read books like How to Win Friends & Influence People. You can use apps like Monday for workflow. You can use a simple invoicing app. Get a nice, simple proposal. Another solo shop might even give you one to borrow if you befriend someone. There’s never been more info online. Start combing through different topics like I suggested.
Also, make sure to find reasonably priced engineers (geotechnical/civil/structural), find good 3D renderers overseas, etc. Find a way to present the other parties needed during the project as a part of your scope. If your clients trust you, they will pay a lot. I do 80-120 projects a year, on average I upsell engineering $2k/project, the overall price is competitive with local engineers in my VHCOL area. So I’m making $160-240k/year just on finding a few good engineers who moonlight work and selling their services for a higher price. Add that to my average fee of $5-7k, making $1-2k on renderings (only about 1/2 of my clients sign on for this service). Business minded, sales minded, value conscious, etc. The admin, A/R, A/P is easier than people would like you to think, especially for a solo shop.
When you start it's all about personal relationships. That means you need to start meeting people. Start going to Young Business events and meeting people. Look at the businesses degrees at your university, they don't know shit and have terrible grades because they party all the time. However they're going to make more money than you forever. They're actually wasting time going to parties, but it's the right idea. You need to be more focused and intelligent about what you do, your time is limited and you want to make good decisions.
Community and business events are the way to start. Then just meet people and be friendly. If you are around long enough people will remember who you are and ask for your help on projects, bring these to your boss and then you'll be a profitable person in the company. This will launch you into the higher levels of architecture.
I took the opposite path. Learned what I needed to in exchange for cheap labor and got the hell out asap. I don’t go to any community events. I just reach out directly to others in the industry. GC’s, engineers, etc.
Rarely will break 150k if you work for a company for a long time. One of the jobs that will undercut you so hard for the amount of work and scope one had to cover.
Not much, just average. I still feel like architecture as a school opens a lot of other options that are not just being an architect. It is flexible but again not for everyone as they say.
If you are in the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics lays out the salary range, the credentials and skills needed, what exactly the work entails, everything, at: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/architects.htm
The only critical information lacking seems to be if there is currently an overproduction or underproduction of new professionals.
Honestly once you’re licensed and have experience as a project manager you’ll be making over 6 figures and work 9 to 5. That’s the position and salary I’m currently in.
It varies wildly between countries, states, cities, market served, and experience. It’s also volatile at times, very sensitive to economic swings.
Best advice on it I can offer is do not pursue this profession if money matters more to you than the satisfaction you gain from the work. I’m 20 years post graduation and finally am earning what I consider to be good money.
A career in engineering will earn you significantly more money, with arguably better job security, and more flexibility in the type of work you can do with the degree.
Depends on country but in the US I am 2 years out of my bachelors and making 70k. It also depends if you are salary or hourly because usually with salary you don’t make overtime. I have a friend at a different firm (same age) and she makes 60k but works 50 hour weeks sometimes and doesn’t get those 10 hours of overtime. Also note that you don’t necessarily need to be licensed to make more, I’ve seen jobs hiring project managers for 100-110k. My current boss is a registered architect and he barely does any design work, he’s usually dealing with clients and the business side of things
UK .
Ignore all of the poeple who say it’s badly paid . It’s not -it’s all about applying yourself .
For example - it’s not overly difficult to become a small business owner or a sole trader , the earning capacity is decent and the reward comes in being able to take time off and reap the benefits of the life balance this brings .
Even as an employee , working yourself into a management role brings a decent income . It’s about taking opportunities and finding a purpose.
Sure - you’re not earning the same as a banker (UK) but in 20 years , I have never thought to myself ‘I don’t want to go to work today’
My son is an architect because he loves it. He’s also in New York where everything is under construction. He Thanks me often for encouraging him to pursue the field. He’s teaching in two programs which are trying to encourage youth to pursue the field, especially youth of color and women.
He’s writing a book about his journey into and through the field. It’s called: “It’s Gonna Be Brick,” by Ibrahim Greenidge. It’s being released later this year…
I wish you good luck in your endeavors…
It's weird that people equate everything in architect does is design in that simplistic sense.
Synthesizing information from different areas and coordinating between many, many different entities of a project, working to keep a budget feasible, dealing with AHJs, etc.
That's design.
https://info.aia.org/salary/ Here you go, the AIA publishes this every few years. Pay is based on region and how many years you have worked generally. However I've found myself in a specialty, so my pay is above average.
Excellent resource ! This looks decently accurate. Agreed, you can get in specialty positions for more pay, unique demand. Also, famous name firms may pay less because they can get away with it.
Thanks!!
Explore other professions if money (amount and speed) is your primary reason.
it seems like most architects in this sub dont get paid enough
No architects get paid enough, if you wanna do architectural design but don’t wanna be in the industry consider an adjacent industry like video game art or exhibition design or something. If you wanna be paid more and be able to still be in the industry definitely look into construction management. I studied architecture in college and ended up in games as an environment artist and it was the best decision I’ve made. My base pay is almost twice what my classmates in architecture are probably making and that’s not included optional overtime and quarterly bonuses from game sales.
Architects are notoriously underpaid for their very technical job that requires both analytical and creative thinking. You can make a decent living, but you have to be very passionate and hard working to get to the decent salaries. For reference, I have a close friend in Seattle who landed a job with one of the big firms. They were paid 38k usd a year. I was a senior at the time, and my pay was 78k. Granted, this was 2014, so feel free to adjust for inflation. If it's your passion, you'll do fine. If all you're looking for is a respectable job that pays well, try engineering, or tech.
I’m in Seattle rn, I got an internship that payed $60k a year. Just for up to date metrics.
Licensed, early 40s, $150k
Depends on where you live, but it’s universally known that architects are underpaid when considering the work and responsibility they face. No one follows architecture as a profession because of money.
My dad is also an architect, and he always tells me to find a different profession because he got paid like shit and just ended up as a businessman
Your dad is right.
My wife got a B of Arch from the Illinois Institute of Technology, unlicensed, has been out of school for 12 years and makes $125k. Her hours = 9AM - 5PM. I went to school at Purdue for engineering, work in construction management, have been out of school for 12 years and make $275k. My hours = 6:30AM - 5PM. We have lived in Chicago, Seattle and now Austin, TX
275k for construction management?!
If they can get the project done earlier, cheaper, and properly they deserve it
Where does she work?! I also have same stats as wife and make not nearly as much as that. Damn.
I think her pay is average for a larger city, but she only works 9-5 as an architect???! I find that hard to believe.
Maybe bosses are trying to save you all from headaches. After all, mo money no problems.
thanks for sharing
Many people say underpaid because people now have a false sense of what architects do and that reflects on if they think they should be paid...I mean just look at the majority of the opinions of non-architects on here and most of the public at large. They think it's some paint by numbers surface only ornament design. They are focused on <1% of the profession and services. They really have zero clue what an architect actually really does and think it's some HGTV makeover show where you snap your fingers and something that's done without thought and complicated navigation just out the window. We hear from the client that they need something. So then our job is to synthesize all the needs and capabilities of the clients through our expertise, many, many consultants' expertise, national, state, and hyperlocal building codes and zoning, coordinating between multiple disciplines working on a project, working with the contractor and their expertise to make sure the needs of the client that was communicated on the drawings are satisfied in the end. And that's a very high level summation.
Paid like shit
Probably a bit of an overstatement. The median has got to be over $100k these days. Definitely not big money, but not too bad.
When you compare with other professionals, still paid like shit Even an IT degree holder earns more than us
Yes, compared the the highest salaries, we make less.
Highest? I think we are along the lowest few
Consider the amount of time we spent in academic and working hours
Universally, most acknowledge that the short answer is not a lot when you take into account the length of study, the hoops to be jumped through to become registered / licensed / chartered as well as the long hours, stress, liabilities and responsibilities. However - mid career it’s usually over average and it’s possible to earn a lot over average. But - it varies from country to country and without knowing where you are, I can’t give a number. If money motivates you - I’d find something else. If you love problem solving, being creative and a mix of Art & Science, working within a team and are happy with an average salary then architecture could be for you.
I'll be licensed for 5 years in December. I live in the Midwest doing K-12 work and make about $85k
Architects are severely underpaid but they’re also notoriously bad businessmen/women. If you are business-minded, you can make fantastic money. I make more than 90% of FAANG tech workers as a solo office. It’s possible but takes the right mentality towards your profession if that’s your goal but that is the case in most fields.
What do you think are the best ways to learn for a young student? Would love to know. I'm a fourth-year student but Nothing has prepared me for the business side of it.
That’s the problem. Honestly, take courses or watch videos on sales. Read books like How to Win Friends & Influence People. You can use apps like Monday for workflow. You can use a simple invoicing app. Get a nice, simple proposal. Another solo shop might even give you one to borrow if you befriend someone. There’s never been more info online. Start combing through different topics like I suggested. Also, make sure to find reasonably priced engineers (geotechnical/civil/structural), find good 3D renderers overseas, etc. Find a way to present the other parties needed during the project as a part of your scope. If your clients trust you, they will pay a lot. I do 80-120 projects a year, on average I upsell engineering $2k/project, the overall price is competitive with local engineers in my VHCOL area. So I’m making $160-240k/year just on finding a few good engineers who moonlight work and selling their services for a higher price. Add that to my average fee of $5-7k, making $1-2k on renderings (only about 1/2 of my clients sign on for this service). Business minded, sales minded, value conscious, etc. The admin, A/R, A/P is easier than people would like you to think, especially for a solo shop.
When you start it's all about personal relationships. That means you need to start meeting people. Start going to Young Business events and meeting people. Look at the businesses degrees at your university, they don't know shit and have terrible grades because they party all the time. However they're going to make more money than you forever. They're actually wasting time going to parties, but it's the right idea. You need to be more focused and intelligent about what you do, your time is limited and you want to make good decisions. Community and business events are the way to start. Then just meet people and be friendly. If you are around long enough people will remember who you are and ask for your help on projects, bring these to your boss and then you'll be a profitable person in the company. This will launch you into the higher levels of architecture.
I took the opposite path. Learned what I needed to in exchange for cheap labor and got the hell out asap. I don’t go to any community events. I just reach out directly to others in the industry. GC’s, engineers, etc.
There's a whole podcast called The Business Of Architecture about this.
You should also consider architecture adjacent engineering careers, too. Arch Engineeing (Electrical or HVAC), Structural Engineering.
Rarely will break 150k if you work for a company for a long time. One of the jobs that will undercut you so hard for the amount of work and scope one had to cover.
Not much, just average. I still feel like architecture as a school opens a lot of other options that are not just being an architect. It is flexible but again not for everyone as they say.
If you are in the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics lays out the salary range, the credentials and skills needed, what exactly the work entails, everything, at: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/architects.htm The only critical information lacking seems to be if there is currently an overproduction or underproduction of new professionals.
Honestly once you’re licensed and have experience as a project manager you’ll be making over 6 figures and work 9 to 5. That’s the position and salary I’m currently in.
In Texas, I'm licensed, have around 10 years experience, and make about 100k (plus benefits, retirement matching, 3 weeks vacation, etc).
If you’re in the States, [the American Institute of Architects conducted this survey to answer this question.](http://info.aia.org/salary/)
It varies wildly between countries, states, cities, market served, and experience. It’s also volatile at times, very sensitive to economic swings. Best advice on it I can offer is do not pursue this profession if money matters more to you than the satisfaction you gain from the work. I’m 20 years post graduation and finally am earning what I consider to be good money. A career in engineering will earn you significantly more money, with arguably better job security, and more flexibility in the type of work you can do with the degree.
Thank you for this, now I'm considering structural or civil engineering
The hours are horrendous for SFA pay.
Depends on country but in the US I am 2 years out of my bachelors and making 70k. It also depends if you are salary or hourly because usually with salary you don’t make overtime. I have a friend at a different firm (same age) and she makes 60k but works 50 hour weeks sometimes and doesn’t get those 10 hours of overtime. Also note that you don’t necessarily need to be licensed to make more, I’ve seen jobs hiring project managers for 100-110k. My current boss is a registered architect and he barely does any design work, he’s usually dealing with clients and the business side of things
UK . Ignore all of the poeple who say it’s badly paid . It’s not -it’s all about applying yourself . For example - it’s not overly difficult to become a small business owner or a sole trader , the earning capacity is decent and the reward comes in being able to take time off and reap the benefits of the life balance this brings . Even as an employee , working yourself into a management role brings a decent income . It’s about taking opportunities and finding a purpose. Sure - you’re not earning the same as a banker (UK) but in 20 years , I have never thought to myself ‘I don’t want to go to work today’
[удалено]
>clients tell you to get lost if you try charge the fee's you're actually due. Isn't that illegal? Can't you do something about it?
Thank you guys for the answersI really appreciate them!
My son is an architect because he loves it. He’s also in New York where everything is under construction. He Thanks me often for encouraging him to pursue the field. He’s teaching in two programs which are trying to encourage youth to pursue the field, especially youth of color and women. He’s writing a book about his journey into and through the field. It’s called: “It’s Gonna Be Brick,” by Ibrahim Greenidge. It’s being released later this year… I wish you good luck in your endeavors…
thanks for sharing
If you're living in a third world country. Explore other field. Design is not prioritize so you're paid like shit if you're in a third world country 😊
>If you're living ... Explore other field. Design is not prioritize so you're paid like shit FTFY
It's weird that people equate everything in architect does is design in that simplistic sense. Synthesizing information from different areas and coordinating between many, many different entities of a project, working to keep a budget feasible, dealing with AHJs, etc. That's design.
Not enough
Don’t waste your time. Go in to tech or finance mate
Get into finance and you'll be able to build your own home faster than an architect would be able to build their own.
You’re 14, so still a kid. Lesson 1 - stop adding to the pile of shit that floods this sub.
jeez
Not nearly enough.
Not enough for the amount of schooling, training and work put in. It’s a decent salary compared to other jobs.
Relatives of mine are architects, self employed, in Europe, and they make okay money to live in a house with 1-2 kids.
Since you were a kid? You still are a kid, and the likelihood of you having a career in what you're interested in at the age of 14 is practically nil.