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Architectural engineers

How to become an Architectural Design Engineer

Also called: Piping design engineer, Plumbing design engineer, Structural design engineer, Architect, Building services design engineer

Surveys sites and designs buildings such as houses, schools, office blocks, factories and hotels.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

Most people study specialist knowledge and skills such as structural mechanics, building materials and the relevant laws in an architecture course at high school, senmon gakko (vocational college) or university before starting work. It takes a good deal of experience to master the specialist skills and handle the work fully. Unless you gain the kenchikushi (licensed architect) qualification, first class, second class or wooden building, after starting work, you cannot design buildings above a certain size under your own responsibility. After gaining experience as an architectural designer and related qualifications such as licensed architect, Professional Engineer (construction) or certified building construction manager, you can also set up your own design consultancy. Design and planning of building work is increasingly computerised, for example with CAD, so computer knowledge is also needed, as well as drawing skills and an eye for design.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Architectural Design Engineer?

Most people study specialist knowledge and skills such as structural mechanics, building materials and the relevant laws in an architecture course at high school, senmon gakko (vocational college) or university before starting work. It takes a good deal of experience to master the specialist skills and handle the work fully. Unless you gain the kenchikushi (licensed architect) qualification, first class, second class or wooden building, after starting work, you cannot design buildings above a certain size under your own responsibility. After gaining experience as an architectural designer and related qualifications such as licensed architect, Professional Engineer (construction) or certified building construction manager, you can also set up your own design consultancy. Design and planning of building work is increasingly computerised, for example with CAD, so computer knowledge is also needed, as well as drawing skills and an eye for design.

How much does an Architectural Design Engineer earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥6,790,500 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Architectural engineers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an Architectural Design Engineer?

Not always. In this job's census occupation group, 56% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: Architecture & Built Environment degrees; Engineering degrees; Vocational college (専門学校) course: Civil engineering and architecture.

Will AI change the work of an Architectural Design Engineer?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026