Architect Job Overview | Best Jobs | US News Careers

Number of Jobs

18,600

Median Salary

$74,110

Unemployment Rate

4.7 percent

Jordan Goldstein, managing director and principal of one of the world's top architectural firms, Gensler, became an architect at age 5. At the time, his parents were house hunting, and they'd bring him along to see the different options. After the visits, Goldstein would return to his Legos he had buckets of them and recreate what he had seen. "Ever since that point, I was looking for the quickest path to becoming an architect and building things," he writes in an email.

Architects are perhaps a rare blend of creativity and practicality. They are artists with grounding in reality. After all, most Lego lovers will tell you that a firm foundation is a necessary component in making a soaring skyscraper. Architects use their skills in design, engineering, managing and coordinating to create aesthetically pleasing and safe buildings that serve a purpose. They're artists, but instead of a canvas, they have cities, parks, college campuses and more to display their work. And their masterpieces are the shops, libraries, office buildings and grocery stores we frequent all the time. Architects are involved at each step of a project, from the initial planning sessions to the ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

One of the biggest advances in the architecture field is digital design and building information modeling, Goldstein writes. "3D models are now layered with information and the models themselves are actually databases on the design that can be utilized for construction, facility management, and energy management," he explains. "With the growing usage of digital printing, architects are quickly able to study the 3D implications of design ideas and mature the project. The understanding of computational design is allowing architects to move right from design to fabrication, leaping over the more conventional aspects of the design process and expedite construction."

The economy is recovering, which is good news for everyone, but it's especially good for architects, who took a beating between 2009 and 2011. Job losses have leveled off considerably, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted 17.3 percent employment growth between 2012 and 2022. Combine these projections with a low unemployment rate, just 4.7 percent, and the job outlook for architects appears to be very solid.

The BLS reports the median annual wage for architects is up slightly from $73,090 in 2012 to $74,110 in 2013. The best-paid 10 percent in the profession made approximately $119,370, while the bottom 10 percent made approximately $44,930. The metropolitan areas of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Santa Cruz, California, pay their architects the best.

To practice in most states, architects will need to graduate from one of the 123 schools of architecture that are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. Students can enroll in a five-year Bachelor of Architecture program. Alternatively, if they have an undergraduate degree in a different field, they can get a master's degree that can take anywhere from one to five years to complete. Upon graduation, students must complete a training period or internship, which typically takes three or more years to complete. Only after the training period is complete are they eligible to sit for the Architect Registration Exam. After passing this exam, architects will have to obtain a state-specific license. And to keep licensure in most states, architects will have to keep up with continuing education standards.

After graduating from school, architects are required to undergo a several-year training period or internship. Many times, these internships can lead to jobs or at the very least, networking opportunities. Once their foot is in the door, architects need to show employers that they're team players. "Architecture is not a solo art and is instead a collaborative profession that benefits from diverse points of view," Goldstein writes. "At Gensler, the collaborative approach to design is integral to everything we do." Architects looking to impress employers should also showcase their communication skills, since architects will be conversing with clients and colleagues on a regular basis.

How much do architects make in your city?

Last updated by Emily H. Bratcher.

Similar jobs you might be interested in...

Read this article:
Architect Job Overview | Best Jobs | US News Careers