How to Become an Architect
Plan and design buildings and structures, ensuring they are functional, safe, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing. It typically requires a bachelor's or master's degree in architecture, with a median salary of $99,280 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$99,280/yr
Middle half
$77,960 to $126,550
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
7,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Architectural Design
- CAD/BIM
- Building Codes
- Sustainable Design
- Project Management
Helpful certifications
- ARE (Architect Registration Examination)
- LEED AP
- State Licensure
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
45/100
Work-life balance
60/100
Stress level
45/100
Satisfaction
78/100
Related careers
- Interior Designer$67,190 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Architect make?
The median pay for an Architect is $99,280 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $77,960 and $126,550 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Architect?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's or master's degree in architecture. Common majors are Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Environmental Design, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture.
Is Architect a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 7,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Architect use most?
Common skills for this role are Architectural Design, CAD/BIM, Building Codes, Sustainable Design, and Project Management.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).