Best Jobs For Former Architects [2026]

In 2026, the architectural profession faces evolving challenges, leading many architects to reconsider their career paths. Despite a consistent number of graduates entering architecture programs, the demand for traditional architectural roles has shifted significantly, impacting job security and satisfaction.

This transition raises an important question:

What career paths are former architects pursuing now?

To explore this, we analyzed the resumes of former architects to identify the most common jobs they transitioned into after leaving the field. From our findings, we compiled a list of the top 100 jobs.

Below is a snapshot of the top ten most common jobs for former architects:

These roles not only leverage skills acquired during architectural training but also serve as viable stepping stones to diverse career paths.

While these positions might seem predictable for former architects, the following list includes some surprising and unconventional job titles that highlight the versatility of architectural skills:

While some of these positions may be more appealing than others, they demonstrate the diverse opportunities available to former architects.

How We Determined the Most Common Jobs of Former Architects

Using data from our extensive resume database, which includes over 7 million entries, we analyzed resumes that identified “architect” in their work history. We then tracked the subsequent job titles these individuals held, ranking them by frequency to create our initial list.

For our list of the most interesting jobs, we sifted through the ranked list to find positions that:

Appeared in fewer than 1% of all new jobs
Were not part of the top 100 most common jobs in our database

Below, you will find the complete ranked list of the most common jobs for former architects.

Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs of Former Architects

Rank	Job Title	%
1	Project Manager	3.67%
2	Solutions Architect	2.32%
3	Consultant	2.03%
4	Project Architect	1.64%
5	Senior Architect	1.59%
6	Senior Software Engineer	1.59%
7	Senior Project Manager	1.38%
8	Lead Architect	0.91%
9	Principal Architect	0.89%
10	Architect And Developer	0.89%
11	Senior Consultant	0.83%
12	Architectural Designer	0.83%
13	Principal	0.73%
14	Owner	0.65%
15	Program Manager	0.62%
16	Lead Technician	0.62%
17	Data Architect	0.60%
18	Senior Manager	0.60%
19	Designer	0.57%
20	Chief Technology Officer	0.57%
21	Enterprise Architect	0.57%
22	Team Leader	0.52%
23	Business Analyst	0.52%
24	Construction Manager	0.49%
25	Director	0.49%
26	Systems Engineer	0.49%
27	President	0.49%
28	Consultant & Architect	0.47%
29	Engineer	0.44%
30	Senior Solutions Architect	0.44%
31	Vice President	0.44%
32	Systems Architect	0.42%
33	Internship	0.42%
34	Principal Consultant	0.39%
35	Technical Consultant	0.39%
36	Manager	0.39%
37	Senior Engineer	0.39%
38	Senior Systems Engineer	0.39%
39	Chief Architect	0.39%
40	Interior Designer	0.36%
41	Management Consultant	0.36%
42	Associate	0.36%
43	Software Engineer	0.36%
44	Design Architect	0.36%
45	Founder	0.34%
46	Technology Architect	0.34%
47	Quality Assurance Lead	0.31%
48	Architectural Project Manager	0.31%
49	Research Assistant	0.31%
50	Information Technology Project Manager	0.31%
51	Project Leader	0.31%
52	Integration Architect	0.31%
53	Architect Manager	0.29%
54	Developer	0.29%
55	Lead Developer	0.29%
56	Design Consultant	0.29%
57	Software Developer	0.26%
58	Software Architect	0.26%
59	Customer Service Representative	0.26%
60	Project Coordinator	0.26%
61	Lead Consultant	0.26%
62	Database Administrator/architect	0.23%
63	Operations Manager	0.23%
64	President/owner	0.23%
65	Teaching Assistant	0.23%
66	Information Technology Consultant	0.23%
67	Architectural Internship	0.23%
68	Chief Executive Officer	0.23%
69	Systems Analyst	0.23%
70	Sales Associate	0.23%
71	Business Consultant	0.23%
72	Assistant Project Manager	0.23%
73	Design, Development	0.21%
74	Senior Designer	0.21%
75	Systems Administrator	0.21%
76	Business Architect	0.21%
77	Information Technology Manager	0.21%
78	Co-Founder	0.21%
79	Architectural Consultant	0.21%
80	Bi Architect	0.21%
81	Technical Manager	0.18%
82	Consultant/project Manager	0.18%
83	Senior Java Developer	0.18%
84	Director Of Software Development	0.18%
85	Technical Solutions Architect	0.18%
86	Executive Director	0.18%
87	Project Designer	0.18%
88	Quality Assurance Manager	0.18%
89	Technical Director	0.18%
90	Project Engineer	0.18%
91	Volunteer	0.18%
92	Senior Enterprise Architect	0.18%
93	Administrative Assistant	0.18%
94	Product Manager	0.18%
95	Business Developer	0.18%
96	Principal Engineer	0.18%
97	Executive Assistant	0.16%
98	Director Of Information	0.16%
99	Senior Data Architect	0.16%
100	Specialist	0.16%

In summary, the career landscape for former architects has expanded beyond traditional roles, allowing them to leverage their unique skill sets in various fields. As the job market continues to evolve, former architects can find fulfilling opportunities that align with their talents and interests.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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