Answer:
Job Outlook for Architects
Architecture, like many other fields, has been profoundly affected by the
economic slowdown and the drop in real estate values. Between July 2009 and
November 2009, employment at American architecture firms dropped from
224,500 to 184,600, according to the US Department of Labor. And yet the US
Department of Labor predicts that over the next ten years, employment of
architects will increase more rapidly than the average for all occupations.
Projections about the job outlook for architects in the USA are published in
the Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Salaries for Architects
Many factors influence the salary an architect earns. Income varies greatly
according to geographic location, type of firm, level of education, and
years of experience. While published statistics can be outdated, they will
give you a general idea of the salaries, wages, income, and benefits for
architects. According to US Department of Labor statistics, in May 2008
architects in the USA earned between $41,320 and $119,220 a year. The mean
annual wage was $76,750 per year, and the mean hourly rate was $36.90.
For more employment statistics, check out the DesignIntelligence
Compensation and Benefits Survey (Order Online). This report draws data
from approximately 460 practices that offer design services such as
architecture, design-build, engineering, interior design, landscape
architecture, urban design, and industrial design. More than 25,000
full-time staff are represented in the survey.
According to the DesignIntelligence Compensation Survey for 2009,
architect income remains steady despite the economic downturn. Salaries for
recent architecture school graduates are increasing. The mean salary for a
graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, for example, has risen from
$39,333 in 2008 to $41,012 in 2009. The mean salary for a graduate with a
Master of Architecture degree has risen from $42,985 to $47,263.
Professional architects with 20 or more years of experience earn an
average income of $100,723. Twenty percent of the experienced architects
earn up to $142,200, according to the DesignIntelligence survey.
An interior designer with 20 years' experience is most likely to earn
$97,800, with the top 20 percent in making $145,333. Their bonus is 8.3
percent.
The DesignIntelligence Compensation and Benefits Survey is
published every year and includes income projections, cost-of-living
differentials, and information about benefits and perks. For the most
current data, be sure to check the most recent edition.
