Wages for Architects
When people enter their homes after a long day, arrive at work in the morning or check out the latest tourist destination, they may not give much thought to how those structures were made. Architects do, as they're involved with everything from checking zoning regulations to ensuring structural safety to overseeing the actual creation of the building. This work forms the building blocks of the architect's salary.
Other People Are Reading
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Blueprints for Success
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A childhood spent with Legos or Erector sets may be an ideal way to ramp up to an architect career, but postsecondary education is almost always required to attain a job. While each employer or firm will have different requirements in terms of candidates' education, the National Architectural Accrediting Board accredits universities around the country offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in the field.
The Foundation
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In 2009, the country's approximately 101,630 architects earned median salaries of $72,700 per year. Across the nation, this figure split into a wide range of salaries. The highest-paid architects that year earned $122,640 in the 90th percentile, while the lowest-paid architects earned $42,320 in the 10th percentile, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Breaking New Ground
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While architecture firms were the largest per-capita employer of architects in 2009, the BLS notes that this industry's average salary of $78,660 for the profession wasn't even close to the highest. Architects employed by real estate agents and brokers earned the highest salaries, at $106,360. Insurance carriers also paid their architects higher-than-average salaries, at $97,650, followed by consulting firms paying $94,740. Architects working for the postal service also received higher salaries, at $89,770.
Mapping it Out
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Architects laying ground for their salaries on either coast of the country earned higher wages than their middle-country counterparts in 2009. Vermont led the country with salaries of $95,840. Nevada took second place, paying architects $93,640. California and Connecticut, at $90,690 and $90,580 respectively, were nearly tied. Architects in New Jersey made it into the top five with salaries of $85,050.
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References
- Photo Credit correction blueprints image by Igor Zhorov from Fotolia.com
