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The differences between architects and structures engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an architect, becoming a structures engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an architect has an average salary of $86,635, which is higher than the $73,391 average annual salary of a structures engineer.
The top three skills for an architect include cloud, java and infrastructure. The most important skills for a structures engineer are structural analysis, revit, and RISA.
| Architect | Structures Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,635 | $73,391 |
| Hourly rate | $41.65 | $35.28 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 94,621 | 20,778 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Architects are licensed professionals who specialize in art and science of design, building constructions, and structures. They play a vital role in the construction and not only responsible for the appearance but also the safety of users. They ensure that every structure is functional, safe, cost-effective, and suit the needs of the future occupants. They closely monitor the working progress to make sure that the project is built according to plan. Some architects are focused mainly on creating designs while some are exclusive in the production of building plans or "blueprints".
A structures engineer works in designing, planning, and overseeing the development of the latest buildings and bridges or modifications and extensions to an existing property or other structures. They are mainly concerned with the safety and capability of the structure to withstand the elements to which they will be exposed--also improving the existing building structural integrity. Part of the task is inspecting properties regarding the conditions/foundation and checking work undertaken by contractors. The job is very similarly related to a civil engineer.
Architects and structures engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architect | Structures Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,635 | $73,391 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $137,000 | Between $54,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an architect and a structures engineer in terms of educational background:
| Architect | Structures Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between architects' and structures engineers' demographics:
| Architect | Structures Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% | Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 16.0% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.3% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 5% |