- What's the average starting salary for an architect?
- Can an architect earn as much as a doctor or a lawyer?
- How is the economic slowdown affecting architects and other design professionals?
Many factors influence the salary an architect earns. Income varies greatly according to geographic location, type of firm, level of education, and years of experience. To learn about salaries, wages, income, and benefits in the field of architecture, check these resources:
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Published by the United States government, the
Occupational Outlook Handbook provides a brief summary of employment statistics gathered a couple years ago. Their findings:
- The median annual earnings for architects in May 2006 was about $64,150
- The middle 50 percent earned between $49,780 and $83,450
- The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,420
- The highest 10 percent earned more than $104,970
- Architects just starting their internships earned considerably less
Bureau of Labor Statistics
For detailed data complied in 2007, check the Occupational Employment and Wages pages at the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their findings cite a mean annual wage of $73,650 in May 2007.
DesignIntelligence Compensation and Benefits Survey
The DesignIntelligence Compensation and Benefits Survey (Order Online) draws data from approximately 460 practices that offer design services such as architecture, design-build, engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, urban design, and industrial design. More than 25,000 full-time staff are represented in the survey.
According to the DesignIntelligence Compensation Survey for 2009, architect income remains steady despite the economic downturn. Salaries for recent architecture school graduates are increasing. The mean salary for a graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, for example, has risen from $39,333 in 2008 to $41,012 in 2009. The mean salary for a graduate with a Master of Architecture degree has risen from $42,985 to $47,263.
Professional architects with 20 or more years of experience earn an average income of $100,723. Twenty percent of the experienced architects earn up to $142,200, according to the DesignIntelligence survey.
An interior designer with 20 years' experience is most likely to earn $97,800, with the top 20 percent in making $145,333. Their bonus is 8.3 percent.
The DesignIntelligence Compensation and Benefits Survey is published every year and includes income projections, cost-of-living differentials, and information about benefits and perks. For the most current data, be sure to check the most recent edition.
