Architecture is an exciting career with loads of room for creative expression. Architects develop plans for public, residential and commercial buildings, as well as plans for their renovation and construction. Understanding what architects make can help you decide if this career path is right for you. By looking at a house we can make an estimate of how much it costs but how much money do architects make designing such awesome structures?
We will explore how much architects make, the positions they can hold, the job outlook for architects, and how they can increase their salaries in this article.
How Much Do Architects Make?
While architects earn high salaries on average each year, their exact earnings are dependent on their educational background, license, work experience, position, employer, industry, and location. It is estimated that architects in the United States earn $107,945 on average, but some earn $130,826 – $151,388.
According to the BLS, architects’ jobs are projected to grow by 8% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for other professions. Sustainable architecture is a growing specialty area that will be in demand in the near future. Building eco-friendly structures is an excellent career path for architects specializing in sustainable architecture.
Below are the USA states and how much you can make as an architect annually in each.
- Alabama: $88,295 per annum
- Alaska: $93,770 per annum
- Arizona: $104,343 per annum
- Arkansas: $100,640 per annum
- California: $151,576 per annum
- Colorado: $96,960 per annum
- Connecticut: $105,293 per annum
- Delaware: $137,197 per annum
- Florida: $89,482 per annum
- Georgia: $97,110 per annumr
- Hawaii: $95,204 per annum
- Idaho: $56,504 per annum
- Illinois: $99,724 per annum
- Indiana: $74,154 per annum
- Iowa: $104,893 per annum
- Kansas: $83,479 per annum
- Kentucky: $83,492 per annum
- Louisiana: $77,194 per annum
- Maine: $93,567 per annum
- Maryland: $94,579 per annum
- Massachusetts: $99,269 per annum
- Michigan: $87,396 per annum
- Minnesota: $107,668 per annum
- Mississippi: $91,224 per annum
- Missouri: $87,405 per annum
- Montana: $89,495 per annum
- Nebraska: $35.16 per annum
- Nevada: $77,979 per annum
- New Hampshire: $127,088 per annum
- New Jersey: $109,399 per annum
- New Mexico: $64,727 per annum
- New York: $99,853 per annum
- North Carolina: $99,853 per annum
- North Dakota: $99,714 per annum
- Ohio: $84,073 per annum
- Oklahoma: $86,771 per annum
- Oregon: $79,935 per annum
- Pennsylvania: $127,273 per annum
- Rhode Island: $76,761 per annum
- South Carolina: $81,887 per annum
- South Dakota: $91,658 per annum
- Tennessee: $89,513 per annum
- Texas: $119,282 per annum
- Utah: $80,068 per annum
- Vermont: $94,079 per annum
- Virginia: $109,704 per annum
- Washington: $114,202 per annum
- West Virginia: $90,151 per annum
- Wisconsin: $85,777 per annum
- Wyoming: $88,860 per annum
How Long Does it Take to Become an Architect?
Just like we ask how much money do architects make? we should also take out time to find out how long it takes to become an architect. You might be eager to jump into the profession, only for you to turn back after seeing the length of years required to be a certified architect.
Developing an architectural career takes time. The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) reported in 2012 that architects typically take 11 years to become certified and licensed. In contrast to attending an interior decorator school or interior design program of only two to four years, students of architecture study for a long time.
This includes five years of study for an undergraduate architecture degree, followed by three years of professional internship to get an Architectural Experience Program (AXP). In terms of school for an architect, it can take anywhere between five and seven years, depending on the curriculum and length of the program.
In addition to an academic track that takes time and effort, obtaining an architectural license also requires relevant hands-on experience accredited by NCARB and a number of exam credentials.
SEE ALSO: How Can I Get An Online Architecture Degree In 2022
Educational Qualifications You need to become an Architect
For entry-level positions in architecture, you need a bachelor’s degree, and many architects also earn a master’s or a doctorate. Accreditation for these degrees is provided by the National Architectural Accreditation Board.
Upon receiving an architecture degree, the graduates must complete a three-year, paid internship with a licensed architect. The graduates must also pass the Architect Registration Examination before becoming certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. This allows them to work as professionals in the United States.
To maintain their license and stay on top of industry advances, they may need to obtain continuing education credentials every two years depending on the state they work in.
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How To Find Work As An Architect
It may be necessary for you as an architect to maintain your license and keep up with the advancements in the industry every two years depending on the state where you work.
Even though employment opportunities for architects will increase in the coming years, candidates are more likely to find an architectural job if they follow these steps
- Get advanced education and certification.
- Do internships and volunteer work.
- Are willing to relocate where the work is located.
- Apply to jobs via job boards.
- Send work inquiries to architectural firms.
- Write a great resume and cover letter.
- Develop your in-demand skills with a continuing education program
- Sound interview preparation.
- Refining your communication and interpersonal skills.
How to Excel as an Architect and Increase Your Salary
There is never a limit to how much one can earn in the architectural field. There are a whole lot of ways to compound your earnings and become a millionaire in your field.
The following steps can be taken by architects to increase their salaries
1. Licensure
After completing a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate in architecture, architects must pass a state licensing exam in order to become licensed to practice their profession. Architects who become licensed can earn more money. In addition to passing the Architect Registration Exam, architects are also eligible for voluntary certification from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
2. Get a Specialization
Architects with various specializations are in high demand across the United States, from project design planning to project management, landscape design to interior design to lighting design and urban planning to specifications writing to workplace consultancy. If you fall into any of these categories, be sure of making well above average.
3. Acquire and Develop other Professional Skills
For architects, knowledge of software, the ability to interpret data, on-site experience, and drafting skills are often essential along with architecture skills. A good number of software and tech tools have been developed to enhance work for architecture. Knowledge of how to handle these tools will put you at a big advantage.
On the other hand, they also need to know how to present their work well to clients, how to work within a team, and how to show leadership. They must also possess good communication skills, good interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities. Furthermore, you should be decisive, adept at problem-solving, and have a flexible, adaptable outlook.
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4. Make your Project Highly Profitable
To be profitable, you need to plan and design projects on schedule and within your budget. You should also design eco-friendly projects that utilize your resources to the maximum. Firms can generate higher profits by executing these types of profitable projects, resulting in increased salaries for architects.
5. Work Overtime
The majority of architectural firms won’t pay for overtime work, but they will appreciate the initiative and team player attitude since it will help them finish projects faster. Keeping projects on schedule will lead to more profit for the firm, and that will typically lead to a raise for the employee.
6. Work with Big Firms
Many architects start out as staff with smaller firms, gain experience, and move on to larger ones. Larger firms with many projects typically offer higher salaries. Obviously, you can apply directly to larger firms, but that doesn’t guarantee a higher salary since experience and other factors also matter.
7. Relocate if Necessary
A California architect typically earns more than one from a rural area. States like New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina each offer higher salaries than other states in this country. Architects seeking a higher salary package must be willing to move to these high-paying regions since there is a large number of high-paying jobs in these areas.
8. Request for a Raise if You have put in Work?
The most straightforward way of raising an architect’s salary is to ask for a salary increase. However, if your employer receives adequate supporting information, they are more inclined to grant you the raise. It is essential for architects to present their case by detailing how they worked extra hours and by detailing how they contributed to the firm’s profitability.
Architects are encouraged to mention any additional education they’ve earned that has benefited the firm as well.
9. Start your own Architectural Firm
An architect with strong industry connections can consider opening their own architectural firm. While opening a firm can be difficult at first, it can also lead to higher earnings. Apart from that, architects will have more options when it comes to managing their everyday schedules and choosing projects.
As an example, they could focus on projects they are passionate about, such as restoring historic buildings or developing eco-friendly structures. Eventually, they can become the go-to architects in that field and may be able to land some very lucrative projects.
There are a couple of other ways architects can actually thrive especially with the tech disruption currently witnessed in different industries. Ensure you keep abreast with the latest development and new technologies because the architectural field requires constant learning to continue staying relevant.
Conclusion
As long as the need for shelter continues to exist, there will always be the need for an Architect. With what we have outlined above it is obvious if you put in the work you will surely excel as an architect because there is no limit to what you can achieve and how much you can earn as an architect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Currently, the average wage for architects in the United States is $89,560 annually. Year after year, the average wage for architects has steadily increased on a national level.
Yes, you can be rich as an architect. Some architects earn megabucks, but most do not, and most architects pursue a creative dream rather than paying the bills. Licensed architects make less than surgeons, medical specialists, and licensed attorneys.
An architect with experience in a hot specialty such as Building Information Modeling management will earn the highest salary in the industry. This is especially true if the architect works on large and complicated construction projects.
The schedules of architects vary depending on the projects they work on. They may put in substantial overtime hours if the project requires it, which is why self-employed architects may have more flexibility in their work schedules.
References
- How Much Do Architects Make? indeed.com
- How Long Does It Take to Become an Architect? newschoolarch.com
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