How far would the world be without architects? Not very far. Every building you see around you was once the brainchild of a talented architect. Architects are in charge of making sure society keeps running smoothly by creating sustainable and useful living spaces.
Whether you are an architect or just interested in becoming one, this article will teach you a lot about how much architects make. We'll look at architect salaries and ways to increase your income as an architect.
What Is the Average Salary for Architects?
In the United States, architects make an average of $93,548 per year, but they can make as much as $151,388. As we'll see later in the article, there are a number of factors that affect how much an architect makes, including the state in which they work, their level of experience, the size of their firm, and many more. Continuing education can occasionally increase your income as you advance your career.
We'll look at some of the ways to increase your payments so that you can earn some of the highest salaries in the field.
How Can You Increase Your Architect Salary?
1. Ask for A Raise
The simplest thing to do is to request a raise if you are already making an architect's pay and would like to increase it. Even while it might seem like a difficult undertaking, the truth is that unless you ask, the answer will always be no. If the conversation doesn't go your way, though, you'll see what you need to do to receive that increase or how to approach it the next time.
If your request is turned down and you feel like you will never make it, you might start searching for alternative opportunities. Providing your employer with evidence of your merit for a raise is the key to this strategy.
This may help smooth things along and make your case. You can mention the number of work hours you put in and your efforts' significant contributions to the firm.
2. Get Licensed
Once you're done with school, you'll need to get licensed by the state you live in or intend to work in. You will get your license once you've passed the Architect Registration Examination. Once this happens, you can now go and work for big architecture firms that will pay you big bucks.
You can also get voluntary certification, which is offered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Having a license will qualify you for jobs you would otherwise not have gotten if you didn't have one.
3. Specialize
In the construction field, architects come in a variety of forms. You might choose to focus on a subject you are enthusiastic about if you want to make the greatest money in this industry. Because there will be little competition and you will be working from the heart, this will make you a sought-after professional.
Numerous consumers are aware that hiring the best architect for the job increases the likelihood of success. As a result, if you are specialized, you can find that a number of people demand your particular service. Specialized architects include commercial architects, industrial architects, residential architects, landscape architects, urban design architects, green design architects, etc.
4. Focus on Profitable Projects
Profitable projects can be your main emphasis if you want to make more money than the typical architect. Make sure you don't go over your budget or timetable. Additionally, you have the option to concentrate on eco-friendly and sustainable projects.
Because of this, you will use a lot of the materials that are available and turn a profit. Clients may subsequently pay your company more as a result, and you may receive a raise above your typical yearly compensation.
5. Improve Your Skill Set
The more you add to your professional skills, the higher your architect salary will become. So, in addition to finishing your bachelor's degree, going for your master's degree, passing your Architect Registration Exam, and becoming a licensed architect, you'll also need to add more skills.
Architect salaries can vary depending on what said architect could do. Therefore, if you want to increase your average annual salary, you'll need to have more knowledge. You can start by learning how to use more upcoming architectural software, improving your drafting skills and on-field skills, learning how to interpret data, improving your communication skills, and so on.
Once you become better at problem-solving, leading a team, and communicating well with clients, your average salary will go up as well.
6. Work Overtime
You can work overtime if your company pays extra for an architect who puts in more hours. Architects' billable hours can sometimes determine how much they make. However, you have alternative options if your architectural business doesn't do this.
However, you might also work longer hours to complete tasks more quickly. Bonus points may then be earned as a result, raising your average pay. Because of your initiative, the corporation may also raise your architect compensation.
7. Start Your Own Firm
If you feel like your efforts are not translating into a higher architect salary, you can opt to go out on your own. However, the best time to do this is not when you are fresh from a paid internship and don't have any real experience.
Wait until you have learned how to work as an architect and have enough experience and contacts to go out independently. As we look at how much money architects earn, remember that it also depends on effort. If you are willing to work and look for clients, you will also reap the rewards.
In addition to your architect salary going up, you'll still be able to offer employment to architecture graduates who are now coming into the field. You will then be the one to determine how much architect salary they are worth.
8. Work for A Firm that Pays More
If you wish to raise your architect income, you can transfer to a more prestigious company that offers higher compensation. But keep in mind that an architect's pay may occasionally be influenced by the firm's earnings. Therefore, if you are now employed by a modest architectural business, you can transfer to a more prestigious one.
If an architect joins a more prestigious firm, their pay may rise. But keep in mind that just because you work for a more well-known business doesn't mean your architect salary has to go up.
9. Relocate to Another State
Jobs are always out there, just waiting for you to locate them. Every state needs architects capable of advancing their state. To determine whether the architect wages in the state where you wish to relocate meet your expectations, you can look at labor data.
In North Carolina, New York, Massachusetts, California, Florida, Georgia, and Illinois, for instance, architects are paid more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Architect Salaries
1. What factors influence the salary of architects?
In the United States and other nations, the following are some of the factors that affect architects' salaries.
- Qualifications
- Licenses and certifications from the relevant boards
- Design skills
- Level of experience
- Understanding of building codes
- Size of the architectural firm
- Availability of projects
- Size of projects
- Bylaws of the architectural firm
- The ambition of the architect
2. Is architecture a good career option today?
Yes. As long as society continues to grow and expand, we will always need architects. Therefore, this is not a practice that is on the brink of death. As we've seen above, you can make a decent living as an architect even if you are new to the career field.
Depending on the position you hold and the location you are in, your salary will be different. Nonetheless, architects are often ranked as some of the highest-paid professionals in society. They are up there with financial advisors, real estate tycoons, healthcare professionals, and even Wall Street brokers.
3. Should you work for an architectural firm or take on individual contracts?
The answer is based on your personal preferences. As long as you possess the necessary credentials to practice architecture, you can work for a firm or independently. To get expertise and contacts if you are still new to the field, you can choose to work for an engineering firm or an architectural firm.
Architects earn higher salaries based on several factors, especially when they're working in a firm. We've looked at some of these above. Nonetheless, you can choose to work for a firm with a constant flow of projects before you choose to venture out independently.
4. What influences architect salaries in different regions?
Generally speaking, salaries in rural locations are lower than those in metropolitan cities. Architects' pay is influenced by a number of elements, including the cost of living, living standards, resource availability, and degree of development.
