Architecture & Engineering
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
Also called: Architect, Architectural Designer, Design Architect, Planner
US median pay
$99,280
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4.3%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
6,900
124,600 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
- Prepare contract documents for building contractors.
- Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
- Conduct periodic on-site observations of construction work to monitor compliance with plans.
- Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
- Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
- Plan layouts of structural architectural projects.
- Direct activities of technicians engaged in preparing drawings or specification documents.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Analysis4.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Systems Evaluation3.6/5
- Systems Analysis3.6/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.2/5
- Time Management3.1/5
Knowledge
- Design4.7/5
- Building and Construction4.6/5
- Engineering and Technology4.0/5
- Public Safety and Security3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- English Language3.9/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.