Everything you wanted to know about pursuing a career in Architecture
Choosing a career path is never easy. But understanding the ins and outs and the pros and cons of a career that you are interested in can help you make a better career choice. Architecture is one of those careers that most of us have heard of but seem to have very little knowledge. If you wonder if architecture is a good career option – but more importantly, if it is the right career for you, this article aims to help you make an informed decision. Here's what you can expect from a career as an architect – you can decide if this is the career for you.
What is the day of an architect?
As an architect, your day is filled with business meetings, meeting with clients, developing plans, consulting with engineers, visiting construction sites, coordinating with on-site teams and off-location teams, and ensuring your team carries out your designs and plans precisely.
Architecture is not a job for someone who prefers to work out of an office or from home. This job is best for those who like to work in a team rather than alone, have no problem coordinating with several groups of people, and are willing to travel regularly to construction sites. The job also requires one to be proactive, creative, and have excellent problem-solving skills.
What kind of salary do architects make?
During the initial years, architects don't make much. But that does not mean that you won't get a chance to make money during your career as an architect. The more time you work as an architect, the more opportunity you will have to take home a more-than-average salary. The mean annual wage of architects in the United States has increased steadily year after year. According to the job site, Indeed, architects' average base salary in the United States in 2021 is $110,552 per year. Some cities like Dallas and Austin in Texas, Washington, DC, and Chicago, IL pay their architects more than that.
If you are a partner or a high-level manager with an architecture firm, you can make more than what most people in the United States make every year. If you are exceptional at your job, you could land up in the category of "rich" people. However, remember that it takes years to make this kind of money, and you must be patient until then.
Is there a need for architects in the United States?
When selecting a career, it's natural to pursue one that is in demand. Nobody wants to pursue a career that leads nowhere. While some jobs are dying, it’s not the case with architects. In the United States, there is still a growing need for architects. Architecture is a highly regulated profession and the industry is constantly growing. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics states there will be a 0.8% increase in architects' employment from 2019 to 2029.
Will you still have employment in 2029? Yes, but you must be willing to:
- Stay up-to-date with the most recent happenings within the industry.
- Ensure your architecture license does not expire.
- Protect yourself and your business with architects professional insurance (click here for more information on architects and engineers insurance).
- Continue your architecture education.
Do architects get to use their creativity?
An architect's career depends on their creativity. They must indeed work within math and logic boundaries, but a significant amount of imagination is required to create unique designs. Architects need out-of-the-box thinking skills to work around problems or develop solutions to existing problems.
If you like to showcase your creativity to people, you will be happy to know that you will have plenty of opportunities to be creative and show off your talents.
Do architects need to study a lot?
At the least, you must complete a degree in architecture, several hours of internship, and an intensive architecture examination before you get your architecture license. Some states also require architects to continue their education if they want to ensure their license does not expire.
Although architecture is not an easy course, it is a very practical course. That means you won't be spending all your time with heavy textbooks. It's a hands-on course that requires work on computers and creating drawings, sketches, and images.
Conclusion
There you have it – the ins and outs and the pros and cons of pursuing a career in architecture. As with most other professions, if you are willing to work hard through the initial years, you can make a successful career out of architecture. Do architects lead a monotonous work life? No, it's quite the opposite. Architects are lively and energetic people and full of creativity. They get to move around a lot, meet people, collaborate and share their ideas and create beautiful buildings and structures. If you have a flair for designing, enjoy working with people, traveling, and have no shortage of creative juices flowing through your veins, this could be the career for you.
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