Career Overview
Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.
Also Known As
- Architect
- Design Architect
- Planner
- Project Architect
Alternate Job Titles
- Architect
- Building Architect
- Building Consultant
- Building Information Modeling Specialist (BIM Specialist)
- Commercial Green Building Architect
- Commercial Green Building Designer
- Commercial Green Retrofit Architect
- Design Architect
- Facilities Planner
- Facility Designer
- Green Building Architect
- Green Building Design Specialist
- Green Building Materials Designer
- Healthcare Architect
- Healthcare Project Architect
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
- Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
- Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
- Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
- Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
- 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.
- Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Inspect the condition of structures.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Design
- Building and Construction
- Public Safety and Security
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Operations Analysis
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Learning
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Visualization
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Fluency of Ideas
- Originality
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Innovation
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2
- Amazon Redshift
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Apache Cassandra
- Apache Hadoop
Tools & Equipment
- Architectural templates
- Arm drafting machines
- Circular saws
- Compasses
- Computer laser printers
- Computer-guided milling machines
- Diazo copiers
- Digital cameras
- Disk grinding machines
- Dividers
- Engineering copiers
- Fretsaws
- Hand saws
- Mat knives
- Mitre boxes
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $60,510 |
| Median | $96,690 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $159,800 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 111,140
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Landscape Architects
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $79,660
Construction Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $106,980
Interior Designers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $63,490
Civil Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $99,590
Construction and Building Inspectors
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $72,120
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.