Hiring Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

What do architects, except landscape and naval do?

• Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
• Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
• Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
• Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
• Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
• Monitor the work of specialists, such as electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, interior designers, or sound specialists to ensure optimal form or function of designs or final structures.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 17-1011.00.

What does it take to become one?

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

O*NET Job Zone 5, SVP (8.0 and above). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit for this role.

What do architects, except landscape and naval get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for architects, except landscape and naval in 90 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $74,960 to $129,640 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $98,620. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 17-1011.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest published median for architects, except landscape and naval in this build is $129,640. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $25,928 to $38,892 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can a architects, except landscape and naval search fill?

23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.