Working as an architect can be a lucrative career, but what is the average salary for architects? If you are considering a future in architecture, you may already know that it is a long, arduous process. Architecture school is often rigorous with long hours and many part-time jobs that pay far less than desired. But if everything goes right and you become a practicing architect, how much money can one expect to earn?
Architects are professionals who create buildings that make people feel happy even when they’re just walking by. They also make sure buildings don’t fall down… which would be pretty bad. However, how much you make as an architect depends on where you work. The average salary for architects in the US is…
The average salary of an architect depends on many factors including your location, educational accolades, years of experience. Ideally, architects should be well-versed in computer hardware and software, design software and methods used to draw buildings. The average length of training for becoming an architect is 5 plus years; however it can range from a couple to 6+ years depending on where you’ve learnt architecture at.
The average salary for architects is approximately $75,000 per year. The exact amount varies depending on the level of experience and skill set of the architect, as well as what type of work they are doing.
Architects who are new to the field will earn less than those who have been in it for some time. A junior architect might make around $50,000 per year while a senior architect could make around $100,000 per year or more.
The best way to find out exactly how much money you’ll make as an architect is to look at salaries posted online by companies that hire architects. These can give you an idea of what the average salary is and help you determine if this job is right for you financially
What is the average salary for architects
Introduction
So, you’re considering a career in architecture. You’ve spent time looking into what architects do, the different types of architects out there, and the education requirements to become an architect. But one question remains: what is the average salary for an architect?
The answer can vary dramatically from person to person. Some factors that affect an architect’s salary include experience, geographic location, industry, market forces and even gender (more on that later). Addressing just one of those factors—geographic location—can make a big difference in what you’ll earn as an architect. According to career website Zippia, for example, New York is the highest-paying city for architects with a mean annual wage of $82K; other top-paying cities include San Francisco ($80K), Los Angeles ($75K), Boston ($75K) and Houston ($74K).
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for architects was $74,520 in 2016 (the latest data available).
The median salary is the middle value of a list of numbers. For example, if you have a list of numbers that includes 1, 2, 3 and 4, then the median salary would be 2 since it’s the middle number in that list:
- 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10
- 1 + 2 + 3 / 3 = 2
Salaries in the field can range from less than $46,600 to more than $129,810.
The average salary for architects is $74,520 per year, with a range of $46,600 to $129,810. This number can vary widely depending on the experience and education level of the architect. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $39,680 in 2016 while the highest-paid 10 percent made more than $130,990 that same year.
The most common areas of employment for architects are:
- Design and construction services (32%)
- Architectural services (17%)
- Educational services (7%)
- Residential building construction (6%)
A significant factor driving salaries up is location: Architects in New York City earn an average of 29 percent more than those working elsewhere in the country; those working in Los Angeles earn an average 23 percent more than their peers outside California’s biggest city.
The top 10 percent earned more than $129,810 while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,600.
The top 10 percent earned more than $129,810, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,600.
The average salary for an architect was $74,520 per year as of May 2017. The median salary was $74,520 per year as of May 2017. The highest-paid earned more than $130,000 per year or more (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018).
Most architects work full time, but they often work more than 40 hours per week.
Most architects work full time, but they often work more than 40 hours per week. Although working more than 40 hours a week is not necessarily bad or good, it can be unhealthy.
Architects spend a majority of their time in offices, where they develop plans and meet with clients. They also spend time on construction sites reviewing the progress of projects and meeting with contractors.
You may not have thought about it, but architects spend a majority of their time in offices. They develop plans and meet with clients. The office environment includes a lot of sitting at desks or standing around talking to each other.
Architects also spend a substantial amount of time out on construction sites reviewing the progress of projects and meeting with contractors who are working on that project. Sometimes they go out to inspect their own buildings that they designed, ensuring that everything is being built according to the original plans.
What is the average architect salary by state? What are the best-paid cities for architects? Here are some other factors that affect salaries:
Other factors that affect architects’ salaries include location, experience, skills and education.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average annual salary for an architect is $85,920. The top 10% earn more than $140,000 per year while the bottom 10% earn less than $45,080 annually.
The highest paying states for architects are California ($124K), Washington ($114K), New York ($107K) and Massachusetts ($101K). The lowest paid states include Mississippi ($71K), West Virginia ($73K), Alabama ($75K) and Arkansas (76).
Location is a huge factor when it comes to architect salaries. For example, a survey by specialized recruiting firm Robert Half found that architecture salaries in New York City were higher than in other cities across the nation. According to Robert Half’s 2017 guide on creative fields, New York City saw average starting salaries at $85,000 for project managers and $70,000 for senior project managers; for technical analysts, pay averaged $76,250 and for senior technical analysts it was $96,000. In addition to NYC, other high-paying metro areas include Los Angeles ($81K/$65K) and Seattle ($73K/$63K).
- Location is a huge factor when it comes to architect salaries. For example, a survey by specialized recruiting firm Robert Half found that architecture salaries in New York City were higher than in other cities across the nation. According to Robert Half’s 2017 guide on creative fields, New York City saw average starting salaries at $85,000 for project managers and $70,000 for senior project managers; for technical analysts, pay averaged $76,250 and for senior technical analysts it was $96,000. In addition to NYC, other high-paying metro areas include Los Angeles ($81K/$65K) and Seattle ($73K/$63K).
- There’s also a big difference between what architects earn if they work at general contractors versus working directly with clients—the former earns more. If you want to maximize your salary as an architect (and enjoy your work), consider going into private practice or working directly with clients instead of taking a job at a general contractor or large firm where you’ll be stuck doing lots of different things unrelated to design or construction management but will likely still get paid less than those who do just that sorta stuff—even if you have more experience!
Conclusion
Since you’re reading this, it’s safe to say you’re interested in becoming an architect. Congratulations! You’ve made a great decision and now you are probably wondering how much can you earn with your architectural career. Well, we have good news for you because there is a lot of money involved. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for architects was $74,520 in 2016 (the latest data available). In addition, salaries in the field can range from less than $46,600 to more than $129,810 depending on several factors such as location and education level.
