Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
Also called: Architect, Architectural Designer, Building Architect, Building Consultant, Building Information Modeling Specialist (BIM Specialist), Commercial Green Building Architect, Commercial Green Building Designer, Commercial Green Retrofit Architect
Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.
What architects, except landscape and naval do
Typical tasks
- Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
- Plan or design structures such as residences, office buildings, theatres, factories, or other structural properties in accordance with environmental, safety, or other regulations.
- Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
- Prepare contract documents for building contractors.
- Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
- Conduct periodic on-site observations of construction work to monitor compliance with plans.
- Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
- Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
- Plan layouts of structural architectural projects.
- Direct activities of technicians engaged in preparing drawings or specification documents.
- Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
- Administer construction contracts.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary
The median annual wage for architects, except landscape and naval is $99,280 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $62,300 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $161,420. The mean annual wage is $106,260.
The mean hourly wage of $51.00 is 7.0× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $99,280 → in 3 years $107,300 → in 5 years $113,000 → in 10 years $128,600 (10-year range $110,600–$149,400). The model assumes pay growth of +2.6% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Architects, Except Landscape and Naval? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval United States | 建築設計技術者 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $99,280 | ¥6.79M ≈ $43,183 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $128,600 | ¥8.93M |
| Outlook score | 55 | 65 |
| AI replacement risk | 63% High | 54% Moderate |
| Workers | 107K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 5 — extensive preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become architects, except landscape and naval
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as architects, except landscape and naval
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.