Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
Architecture and Engineering
Consults with clients on how a building should work and how space should be used, then prepares scale drawings and final construction plans. Those plans cover materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, and construction time, and they fold engineering details into one design. Meetings continue as drawings are reviewed and specialists such as electrical or mechanical engineers and interior designers are monitored so form and function stay aligned. Computer-aided design is a common tool for this work. Suits people who like precise visual drafting, written specifications, and coordinating several technical trades on the same structure.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$99'280
Median Wage Market Position
$99'280
What you might do
- Design homes, offices, theaters, and factories
- Draw scale plans of the proposed building
- Ask clients how each space should function
- Specify materials, colors, equipment, and cost estimates
- Sit with clients to review the drawings
- Fit electrical and mechanical work into one design
Skills that matter
- Preparing scale drawings and construction plans
- Listening for a client's space needs
- Specifying materials, costs, and timelines
- Reviewing drawings in meetings with clients
- Monitoring engineers and design specialists
- Integrating engineering into a unified design
AI & the future of this role
Concept sketches, code checks, and draft documentation are tasks AI tools might increasingly handle. Client trust, liability for safety, site constraints, and coordinated judgment across disciplines still anchor the role, even as design production may become leaner.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details