Architects, chartered architectural technologists, planning officers, surveyors and construction professionals

How to become an Architect

Official title: Architects

Also called: Architect, Project architect, Chartered architect, Landscape architect, Formwork designer, Landscape designer, Landscape craftsman, Structural designer, Reinforced concrete designer

Architects plan and design the construction and development of buildings and land areas with regard to functional and aesthetic requirements.

Main tasks

Liaises with client and other professionals to establish building type, style, cost limitations and landscaping requirements
Studies condition and characteristics of site, taking into account drainage, topsoil, trees, rock formations, etc.
Analyses site survey and advises client on development and construction details and ensures that proposed design blends in with the surrounding area
Prepares detailed scale drawings and specifications for design and construction and submits these for planning approval
Monitors construction work in progress to ensure compliance with specifications

How to become one

Entrants require a professional qualification in architecture that will encompass an accredited degree and postgraduate qualification, and at least two years practical experience.

Ways in

Apprenticeship (England): Architect (integrated degree) (level 7). England. Typically 48 months. Skills England standard ST0533.
Apprenticeship (England): Chartered landscape professional (level 7). England. Typically 60 months. Skills England standard ST0742.
University: Architecture & Built Environment degrees, Offered by 12 universities in the UK

Pay · Outlook

Median full-time pay: £47,143 a year The middle half earn £37,342 to £55,262.
About 48,400 people work in this job now, and about 54,400 are projected by 2035. (+12.2%)

Questions people ask

How do I become an Architect?

Entrants require a professional qualification in architecture that will encompass an accredited degree and postgraduate qualification, and at least two years practical experience.

How much does an Architect earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £47,143 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £37,342 to £55,262.

Is an Architect a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2035, from about 48,400 to about 54,400 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become an Architect?

Usually. 97% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.