Interested in a career as an architect? Find out about the Top 10 Highest Paying Architect Careers, what they do and what education you need.
1) Landscape Architect
Average Salary: $38,000– $84,000
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $66,360
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: $42,000 – $72,000
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $56,349
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: $46,000 – $85,000
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $60,278
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: There is a projected 2% increase in the average employment growth rate expected by 2027.
4) Preservation Architect
Average Salary: Data not available. However typically preservation architects can make an average of $87,000.
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: $11,000 – $113,000
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): Data not available.
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: Data not available. However typically commercial architects make an average of $45,000.
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): Data not available.
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: Data not available. However typically industrial architects make an average of $45,000.
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $58,497
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: $45,000
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $87,706
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: $132,000 – $262,000
Annual Provincial Median Salary (BC): $137,953
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.
If you are interested in an architectural career and aren’t sure where to start, Brighton College may be for you! Brighton College offers in-depth training in AutoCAD, civil infrastructure design, architectural design, and construction. Call 604-227-3883 or fill out the form below.
*Data taken from PayScale, WorkBC.ca and Jobillico.
