What are the pros and cons of being an architect?

• Creativity. Architecture is a great field for those wanting to use their creativity. It requires innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities, all through the lens of design and creativity.

  Architects sometimes are given an immense amount of freedom regarding how they choose to design a building. It must always be functional, but they can still take liberties with this art form.

• An architect's work makes an impact. Architects get the opportunity to design different structures, spaces, and buildings that have a profound impact on communities.

  Some focus on residential design for houses, apartment buildings, and condos, while others build commercial and public structures like office buildings, stores, and museums.

• It's a well-respected profession. Architecture takes a lot of knowledge and skill to execute properly, making it a highly-respected profession.

  They must work with many other construction and engineering professionals on projects. These workers typically have a lot of respect for and trust in architects because projects are based on their design blueprints.

• Good compensation. Architects are also well-compensated for their work. The average salary for an architect in the United States is $96,580 per year, and many can make a lot more than this if they can form impressive careers in the field.

  Architects generally earn higher salaries and rates as they gain more experience and complete more complicated projects.

Cons:

• Educational path. The college path to becoming an architect is very difficult, and bachelor programs in this field don't take the traditional four years to complete but are most commonly completed in five to six years.

  Those seeking to earn a Bachelor of Architecture degree from a university should look for a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

• Career path. After obtaining a degree, it normally takes several years before an architecture graduate can become a professional architect. Every state requires architects to have a license. Many work in three-year-long internship programs before applying for an architect license.

• Working hours. Because many architecture firms and projects require architects to meet tight deadlines, architects often put in work weeks of over 40 hours.

  It is not uncommon for architects to work all day and into the evening, and sometimes they must also work on the weekends. For some, this makes obtaining a healthy work-life balance difficult and can cause burnout.

• Stress and pressure. Being an architect can be very stressful as their jobs carry a lot of responsibilities. While the safety of a structure is not solely reliant on an architect, they are responsible for the overall concept of the structure.

  When mistakes are made in the building process, an architect might be accountable for those errors.