How to become an Architect
Official title: Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
Also called: Architect, Architectural Designer, Design Architect, Planner, Project Architect, Specifications Writer
Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.
Main tasks
- Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
- Plan or design structures such as residences, office buildings, theatres, factories, or other structural properties in accordance with environmental, safety, or other regulations.
- Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
- Prepare contract documents for building contractors.
- Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
- Conduct periodic on-site observations of construction work to monitor compliance with plans.
- Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
- Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
How to become one
There are typically three main steps to becoming a licensed architect: completing a bachelor's degree in architecture, gaining relevant experience through a paid internship, and passing an exam.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- College: Creative Arts & Design degrees, Offered by 32 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 50 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $99,280 a year The middle half earn $77,960 to $126,550.
- About 124,600 people work in this job now, and about 129,900 are projected by 2035. (+4.3%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Architect?
There are typically three main steps to becoming a licensed architect: completing a bachelor's degree in architecture, gaining relevant experience through a paid internship, and passing an exam.
How much does an Architect earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $99,280 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $77,960 to $126,550.
Is an Architect a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 124,600 to about 129,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Architect?
Usually. 91% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of an Architect?
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.