Architosh Staff ([email protected])

12 Feb 2001 [Editor's note: modified 13 Feb: 5:16pm]

2000 Salaries in Architecture: Getting what you're worth?

Architosh has compiled selected figures on salary levels for US architecture firms in the year 2000 into a chart which you can view at a larger scale. (see below)

Chart data is based on average and weighted averaged figures from year 2000 architecture compensation survey compiled by Dietrich Associates, Inc. These annual surveys can be found in your local library, local AIA chapter or local architectural school library. In addition, some figures (those with single and double astrixes) were obtained from the Boston AIA chapter's 1999 survey data, making them lower than current salary levels here in Boston which in general are higher than in many parts of the country.

Where to Get More Information

After looking at the national 2000 data—which all architecture services group positions reflect—you may want to get regional and local salary levels from surveys conducted by your regional or local AIA chapter. Such surveys may be more representative of your area than the regional charts found in national surveys.

The Chart and Some Notes

The chart below selects the key positions in architectural firms (a subset we selected from the larger range of positions shown in the Dietrich survey). Jr. Drafter has a national average salary of approximately $26,000, while the average Principal/Managing Partner has an average salary of approximately $107,000 or 4.11 times larger than the lowest architecture staff.

In an article earlier we noted that [edited:] Sir Richard Rogers in London had a strict policy that no firm director shall make more than 6 times the salary of the lowest paid architect of two years standing in the firm. $25,000 times six (6) is $150,000 or $15,000 more than the top salary of $135,000 for firm principals shown in the Boston Globe Boston area compensation survey for year 2000. Honestly, this policy's idea may indeed by noble but six (6) times the lowest paid architecture staff allows for a very healthy figure. The question of whether that is too healthy is up for debate.

To View Larger Click on the image at left. It should open in a separate window.

Also note that Project Managers make approximately 75% of the top principal's salary on average and that Project Designers make approximately 63%. In the Dietrich survey Architect positions rage from Architect I to Architect VIII. The registration line falls between IV and VI who's responsibilities encompass such things as what a Job Captain would do and up to a Sr. Designer and Project Manager.

Increases in salaries in architecture have shot up dramatically in this hot economy, up as high as 20% plus, especially within the last two years. Percentage increases have been largest at the principal level, lower levels and IT/Network manager level, as firm owners have given themselves optimistic pay increases and struggled to find new employees in a market saturated with more jobs than available people. Additionally, IT-related jobs have gone up during the Internet high-tech boom where there is a substantial shortage of qualified individuals. The Boston Globe labels Network Managers as one of the hottest growing positions within the booming information technology market.