Architectural Designer Job Outlook

The growing need for new and renovated structures in the US has prompted growth in the field of architecture. The demand for professionals like Architectural Designers is increasing alongside the field’s growth. Now is a great time to pursue a career as an Architectural Designer. Keep reading to learn about the current job outlook for Architectural Designers and expected future growth in the field. 

What is an Architectural Designer?

Architectural Designers transform design concepts into reality. When studying architectural design, students learn how to create functional, sustainable, responsive, and aesthetically pleasing structures. This role requires one to develop technical design skills and soft skills. Architectural Designers must also keep up with industry trends. In recent years, sustainable design has become more popular among home and business owners. Many clients expect new builds to incorporate sustainable designs and energy-efficient systems. An Architectural Designer looking forward knows how to keep up with these trends and advancements in architecture and construction. 

Architectural Designers often work with other professionals involved in architecture and construction. Architects usually lead an architectural design team. They plan and oversee the construction process while also managing contracts. Architectural Designers may also work alongside Interior Designers, who make indoor spaces functional, and BIM Specialists. This role may also require collaborating with engineers, contractors, and clients. The level of teamwork associated with Architectural Designer roles means that individuals working in this field need excellent communication skills.

What is the Job Outlook for Architectural Design?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the field of architecture will grow 5% between 2022 and 2032. Demand for architectural professionals, like Architectural Designers, will grow alongside the field. 

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Job Outlook

Before pursuing a career as an Architectural Designer, you should consider the job outlook, especially in cities where you’d like to work. Urban cities with high or growing populations usually have a higher demand for Architectural Designers and other architectural professionals. These cities also often have rich architectural histories and established firms that draw in professionals entering the field. Check out the job market in cities like NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, and Seattle. 

Future Growth

Workers in architecture and engineering occupations will see some of the fastest average growth in the next several years thanks to a growing need for housing, commercial buildings, and infrastructure. As the population increases, so too does the need for architectural structures. This need will also increase the number of degree and non-degree programs for aspiring Architectural Designers to enroll in. 

Industries

Architecture in the US is indispensable. Architectural Designers work on residential and commercial structures as well as infrastructure. They’re hired by architecture firms but can also work freelance. In turn, these firms find work among construction companies and real estate agencies. It’s also not uncommon for Architectural Designers and other professionals to find work in the healthcare industry and government. The healthcare industry has grown at a significant pace because of the country’s aging population. This growth has led to a need for more facilities, from hospitals to primary care practices. The architectural field also helps create and maintain public buildings, including those used by government agencies. 

Salary

In the United States, Architectural Designers make an average annual salary of $71,000. This salary varies greatly depending on the state where you work. For example, Architectural Designers in Florida, a state that has seen recent population growth thanks to people moving to the state, make an average annual salary of $99,500. When looking at highly-populated cities like Los Angeles and New York City, the average salary rises. In LA, the salary ranges from $103,500 to $130,500, and in NYC the salary for an Architectural Designer ranges from $108,500 to $137,000. 

You can also expect to receive a higher salary if you specialize in an in-demand skill. Students who specialize in BIM software, for example, can train to become a BIM Manager. Experience can also result in higher-salary jobs. After significant experience, you can apply for roles like Director of Architecture, which earns upwards of $100,000 in the US. Additional schooling on top of experience and a license can help you transition to a career as an Architect, which also pays more than most Architectural Designer roles. 

How Do I Find an Architectural Designer Job?

Are you ready to apply for Architectural Designer jobs? You have a variety of options when looking for open positions. 

Freelance Architectural Designers can look for jobs using popular freelance platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork. These websites allow freelancers to market their skills and portfolios to individuals looking to hire freelancers. Another way that freelance Architectural Designers find design jobs is by word of mouth. After establishing yourself as a competent Architectural Designer and building connections in the field, you can rely on word of mouth to do some marketing for you. 

If you want to pursue a career as an Architectural Designer who works for an architectural firm, you’ll want to look at online job boards. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has an online career center where architectural professionals can look at job postings. Once you make an account, you can upload your resume and browse hundreds of job openings. AIA also offers a free resume evaluation. During the resume evaluation, an expert with AIA will let you know how you can make your resume more competitive. 

Archinect is another site by professionals in the industry. On Archinect’s job board, you can look for junior, intermediate, and senior-level positions. Archinect’s filtering system also allows you to look at jobs based on job type, like part-time or full-time, and companies under diverse ownership.

Other popular job boards used to find Architectural Designer jobs include LinkedIn and Indeed. LinkedIn is a professional social media platform that offers users access to its job board. Tens of millions of people use LinkedIn to look for jobs each week and to network with people in their field. Indeed is one of the most commonly used job boards by people seeking employment in the US. With Indeed, you can upload your resume to make the job application process faster and filter out opportunities based on experience level and required skills.

Learn the Skills to Become an Architectural Designer at Noble Desktop

Interested in developing the skills needed to become an Architectural Designer? Check out these live online classes you can enroll in today. 

Noble Desktop’s AutoCAD Bootcamp will teach you the fundamentals of technical drawing. The 30-hour live online bootcamp covers the creation of 2D drawings using AutoCAD. Lessons range from beginner to intermediate-level skills. You can expect to learn basic drawing and modifying techniques for drafting and technical drawing in the bootcamp’s beginner-level lessons. As part of the bootcamp, you’ll receive access to a 1-on-1 training session with an expert who will answer questions you have about challenging course concepts and provide assistance with your project. After completing the course, you have one year to take advantage of a free retake. Before enrolling in this bootcamp, please be aware that Noble designed the course for PC users. Noble hosts in-person PC-only versions of the bootcamp, but Mac users may attend the live online bootcamp. If using a Mac, be aware that the Mac AutoCAD graphic interface is different from the PC version that the instructor will use.

For a more intensive AutoCAD training experience, enroll in Noble Desktop’s AutoCAD Certification Program. This live online program will prepare you to become an Autodesk Certified Professional. An expert instructor will guide you and your classmates through beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level AutoCAD. In addition to 48 hours of hands-on lessons, you’ll have access to six hours of private tutoring. During your tutoring sessions, you can ask questions about topics of interest and challenging course content. The program fee includes the cost of the certification exam and a retake. If you want to enroll in the program but don’t want to take the exam, let Noble Desktop know and they will instead provide you with an extra hour of tutoring. 

Sign up for Noble’s AutoCAD Masterclass to learn the foundations of AutoCAD along with advanced-level skills. You’ll learn through hands-on lessons that cover the basics of AutoCAD, like opening and creating drawings, exploring the interface, and using fundamental drawing and editing commands. Later lessons covered in the course teach effective working methods and accurate positioning. The course intends to help students gain real-world experience through project-based lessons where you’ll learn to use productivity tools commonly utilized by Architectural Designers. Along with 48 hours of training, Noble includes one 1-on-1 training session where you can ask an expert about challenging course topics. 

VDCI offers accredited classes to help you develop the skills needed to work as an Architectural Designer. In their Introduction to Revit course, you’ll learn about foundational Revit concepts and how they relate to BIM. This hands-on class will help you gain real-world experience as you work on a class project that includes floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, curtain walls, and roof design.

VDCI’s Revit Architecture Professional Program will introduce you to beginner and intermediate-level Revit. During these lessons, you’ll design 3D building models and learn how to explore BIM project management techniques. Three courses within the program cover construction documents. In BIM Construction I, II, and III, you’ll learn how to produce renderings for presentation and documentation. Lessons also cover building topography for projects and cataloging building information using schedules. 

Enroll in VDCI’s BIM Certificate Program to learn how to use Revit to create 3D models of commercial building projects. The 100% online class includes 290 clock hours of comprehensive lessons covering Revit, construction documents, and BIM detailing. You will also have your choice of 60-80 clock hours of electives that will count toward completing your certificate program training, and you will gain relevant work experience while working on a capstone project.