Architectural Job Captain Job Description
Architects develop the concepts for homes, businesses, outdoor buildings and complexes and turn these ideas into actual working plans and images. An architectural job captain is the individual who leads a team of architects, structural engineers, draftsmen and general contractors during a large building project. They are responsible for ensuring that the building is structurally sound and functional, as well as aesthetically in tune with the developer's or builder's ideas. Architects are a unique blend of engineer, draftsman and artist, and an architectural job captain must possess an especially high level of communication and leadership skills to manage a diverse team of professionals.
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Job Duties and Responsibilities
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Architects design an array of buildings including homes, offices, schools, condo complexes, high-risers and government buildings. Architects usually specialize in one or several types of buildings and build their skills around this specialty. An architectural job captain usually is self-employed and is the principal partner of his or her architectural firm. The architectural job captain will usually be the individual who clients meet with to discuss the project from the very beginning through to the end of building. The architectural captain must ensure that the clients' vision for their building is met, that the structure is built to proper specifications and that it is structurally safe.
Education Requirements
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Most states require architects to complete a bachelor's program in architecture and then gain some degree of experience through working as a draftsman or other related profession before they can be given the proper licensure. All architects must pass a state examination to acquire an architect license. Architect job captains usually have acquired many years of experience or are the founder of the firm in which they are working.
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Other Preferable Skills
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 21 percent of architects are self-employed. This is almost three times the proportion for all other occupations in the United States. Architects who go into business for themselves must possess exceptional skills in business management, marketing and accounting or hire employees who have these necessary skills. Architects must have excellent communication skills because much of their time is spent counseling and discussing projects with clients. High school and college students considering a career in architecture should take classes in physics, mathematics, drafting and computers. A construction background can contribute to an architect's understanding of building materials, construction techniques and building project management.
Job Outlook
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According to the BLS, architecture graduates will face a high level of competition, especially for jobs in the most prestigious firms. The BLS states that employment is expected to grow faster than the national average for all architects and architect job captains. In 2008, architects held about 158,000 jobs, and this number is expected to grow. There is expected to be an increase in the demand for architects and architect job captains with knowledge and expertise in "green" or sustainable building as energy costs and concern about the environment increase.
Job Salary
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Median annual wages of wage-and-salary architects, according to the BLS, were $70,320 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $53,480 and $91,870. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,320, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $119,220. The top paying states to work as an architect are Vermont, Nevada, California, Connecticut and New Jersey.
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References
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