Architecture Job 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 purposes—from 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.
If you want to explore further, check out our expansive selection of engineering jobs. Or you can consider these specific options too:
Architect Education and Skills
Before getting any architecture jobs, you'll first need to acquire a bachelor's in architecture. A BArch program should take about five years. Classes may include:
- history of architecture
- freehand architectural drawing
- structural concepts
- building technology
- construction methods
- professional practices
You'll also likely take courses that cover architectural theory, along with math, physics, and the liberal arts. Some students opt to earn a master's degree (MArch), which can take an additional one to five years.
Importantly, your degrees should be held from one of the schools accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)around two-thirds of U.S. states actually mandate this. All states (and D.C.) require that you're licensed too. Details are available through the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and its Licensing Requirements Tool, but generally, you'll need to do a paid internship and complete the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®).
Down the line, you might also consider joining a professional organizationsuch as the American Institute of Architects (AIA)to scale up your network and become involved in community initiatives and advocacy efforts.
Meanwhile, the following skills will help you throughout your career:
- creativity and drawing skills
- analytical prowess
- organizational know-how
- ability to use design software for planning, creating blueprints, and modeling
- visualization skills
- time management and number-crunching skills (to satisfy client expectations and remain within the allotted budget for any given project)
Gain more insight with this architect job description from Monster.
Update Your Architect 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.
Interviewing for an Architecture Job
You'll likely need to pass a round or two of interviews for most architecture jobs. To prep, review Monster's suggestions on how to thrive during job interviews. Practice by thinking about the type of interview you're going into:
- Is this a firm that concentrates on a certain category of properties such as residential, landscape, or commercial design?
- What relevant software are you familiar with?
- What kinds of projects and clients have you previously worked with?
- Do you have experience directly working with engineers to ensure clients' objectives are met?
How Much Do Architecture Jobs Pay?
Salaries in the architecture field depend on experience, location, and the kind of firm or company you're aiming to work for. Currently, the annual median salary for an architect is $86,001 (and it can range between $60,393 and $127,562). For a more specific example, a landscape architect earns around $63,583 per year. You can find precise pay details for architecture positions where you live by using Monster's Salary Tools.
Want to Learn More About a Company You're Interested In?
Besides maximizing both your creative and analytical skills, architecture jobs can provide opportunities to make veritable impacts in both public and creative spaces. Browse through our company profiles, where you can find:
- guides on top-rated architecture firms
- trends from the architecture industry
- up-to-date architecture job postings
Lay Out Your Plans for an Architecture Career Through Monster
You're now poised to design amazing places for people to live, work, and play in, so let us guide you to find the best architecture jobs out there. When you build a profile on Monster, we'll be able to connect you with recruiters at architecture firms, send you notifications for job openings in your area, and so much more.