Chicago Architecture Jobs Overview
Architects are mavens who observe open spaces and dream about how to fill them ingeniously. They specialize in designing a variety of physical buildings for multiple purposesfrom individual homes and soaring skyscrapers to inventive museum complexes and sprawling shopping centers. Consulting with clients, planning a new project, creating technical drawings, and overseeing buildouts at construction sites are all part of the duties associated with architecture jobs.
There is a particular demand for architects who are knowledgeable about sustainable design and LEED-certified projects. The green building market is predicted to be one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide, and the U.S. market alone is sized at $81 billion. Architects are also needed for green-oriented renovations such as for houses, schools, and hospitals.
You can expand your search for engineering jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Chicago, Illinois
If you're going to Chicago to experience "da Bears," deep-dish pizza, and windy streets, native Chicagoans say "fogetta 'bout it!" While these have made Chicago famous, you'll find many locals eating thin-crust, tavern-style pie. Plus, the city isn't on any list of the windiest cities in the U.S.—a local newspaper named it "The Windy City" after the Chicago elite's propensity toward boastfulness and self-promotion. And while the Chicago jobs list (hit jobs, that is) includes notorious mobsters from Chicago like Al Capone, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson, linguists are noticing that the "Chicago accent" is disappearing.
However, there's a reason Condé Nast Traveler has named Chicago the "best big city in the U.S." Chicago is home to top universities, including Northwestern University, Wheaton College, and Valparaiso. And if you're looking for Chicago jobs, you can relocate to any one of the city's unique neighborhoods, such as North Center with its cozy Irish pubs and breweries or Uptown, the lively entertainment district. For those who want to live further out from the city, you can also find jobs in popular suburbs including Cicero, Oak Park, and Evanston.
Update Your Chicago Architecture Resume
Most architects still use their hand-drawing skillswhether they're brainstorming during the conceptual stage of a project or making sketches while at a building site or when scoping out land for a new houseso make sure to highlight that on your resume. At the same time, architecture jobs also use computer-aided architectural design (CAAD) and building information modeling (BIM) software, so you should underscore your knowledge of those too.
If you're feeling blocked in any way, Monster has great advice on how to optimize a resume for creatives, along with a ton of resume writing tips, to get you going. And if you've already worked on some designs, put together a professional portfolio, which you can also include in your applications.
And don't forget to embrace the art of the cover letter so that you share your story from the get-go. We have lots of guidance on how to write cover letters to get you started.
How Much Do Architecture Jobs Pay in Chicago, Illinois?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in architecture jobs in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median architect pay in Chicago is $87,000 per year, which is 5% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Chicago Architecture Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in architecture? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those architecture jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Chicago, how to nail your job interview, and more.