The architecture industry is one of the highest-paying industries in the world. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for architecture and engineering occupations was $74,750 per year in May 2015. The median annual salary was $71,300 per year.
Architects who had been in the workforce for five years or less earned a mean annual wage of $56,000 per year. Those who had been in the workforce for 15 years or more earned a mean annual wage of $87,800 per year.
In addition to working as an architect, there are other opportunities within this field that offer high salaries. A senior project architect earns an average salary of $66,000 per year while a project architect earns an average salary of $54,000 per year. Project managers earn an average salary of $109,000 per year and project estimators earn an average salary of $78,000 per year.
Architecture Highest Salary
1) Landscape Architect
Average Salary: $28,885 – $132,393
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $67,135
Education: A bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture is required.
Job Description: Landscape architects create landscape designs, develop contract documents and oversee the construction of landscape development for commercial projects, parks, golf courses, office complexes, and residential real estate developments.
Market Outlook: There is a projected 1.4% increase in the average employment growth rate expected by 2026. and a 1.6% increase projected by 2031.
2) Architectural Technologist
Average Salary: $39,355 – $97,042
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $72,996
Education: Certification in architectural technology or a related field is usually required.
Job Description: Architectural technicians provide technical assistance to professional architects and civil design engineers in carrying out research; preparing drawings, architectural models, specifications and contracts; and in overseeing construction projects.
Market Outlook: There is a projected 1.5% increase in the average employment growth rate expected by 2026. and a 1.6% increase projected by 2031.
3) Architectural Designer
Average Salary: $40,000 – $74,000
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): Data not available.
Education: Certification in architectural technology, computer aided design (CAD) or a related field is required.
Job Description: Architectural designers work closely with architects to produce CAD drawings, renderings, layouts and color boards for architectural projects. They compile data, perform calculations required for the preparation of drawings and design layouts and use technical manuals to ensure compliance with required codes and standards.
Market Outlook: Data not available.
4) Preservation Architect
Average Salary: $46,000 – $102,000
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): Data not available.
Education: A bachelor’s degree in architecture or related field is required. Most employers prefer a master’s degree in architecture with a focus on historic preservation.
Job Description: Preservation architects help preserve old buildings that have historical value by making repairs and renovations that do not alter the appearance of the building.
Market Outlook: Data not available.
5) Green Building & Retrofit Architect
Average Salary: $49,908 – $93,852
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $65,175
Education: A bachelor’s degree in architecture. A master’s degree in architecture may be required by some employers.
Job Description: Green building and retrofit architects are responsible for designing new buildings and retrofitting existing buildings that reduce energy consumption and decrease environmental impact.
Market Outlook: Data not available.
6) Commercial Architect
Average Salary: $49,908 – $93,852
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $65,175
Education: A bachelor’s degree in architecture or related field is required.
Job Description: Commercial architects oversee design development, production of working drawings and construction documents on commercial building projects. They also establish and maintain budgets, schedules, manage the project delivery process, co-ordinate and lead teams, and communicate the project’s scope and deliverables to clients.
Market Outlook: There is a projected 1.5% increase in the average employment growth rate expected by 2026. and a 1.6% increase projected by 2031.
7) Industrial Architect
Average Salary: $61,000 – $116,000
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): Data not available.
Education: A bachelor’s degree in architecture or related field is required.
Job Description: Industrial architects specialize in integrating different processes, machinery, equipment and industrial building code requirements into functional industrial buildings, such as factories, storage buildings, warehouses, power plants, etc.
Market Outlook: Data not available.
8) Architecture Manager
Average Salary: $60,169 – $150,413
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $90,536
Education: Architecture managers require a bachelor’s degree in architecture or related field.
Job Description: Architecture managers plan, organize and direct the activities of an architecture, landscape architecture, scientific or statistical department, service or firm.
Market Outlook: Data not available.
9) Senior Architect
Average Salary: $61,000 – $116,000
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): Data not available.
Education: A bachelor’s degree in architecture is required.
Job Description: Senior architects oversee design development, production of working drawings and construction documents on projects. They also establish and maintain budgets, schedules, manage the project delivery process, co-ordinate and lead teams, and communicate the project’s scope and deliverables to clients.
Market Outlook: Data not available.
10) Extreme Architect
Average Salary: Data not available. However typically extreme architects make upwards of $100,000+ per year.
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): Data not available.
Education: A master’s degree in architecture is required.
Job Description: Extreme architects specialize in the design and development of buildings in extreme climates, such as in Antarctica. Typically, they work on unique projects with highly problematic constraints and few or no previous architectural references.
Market Outlook: Data not available.
