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The differences between architectural consultants and architectural designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an architectural consultant, becoming an architectural designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an architectural consultant has an average salary of $72,886, which is higher than the $59,122 average annual salary of an architectural designer.
The top three skills for an architectural consultant include cloud, API and java. The most important skills for an architectural designer are sketch, sketchup, and BIM.
| Architectural Consultant | Architectural Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $72,886 | $59,122 |
| Hourly rate | $35.04 | $28.42 |
| Growth rate | 3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 43,113 | 54,358 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
An architectural consultant is an individual who owns or works for an independent architecture or multidisciplinary design firm to develop innovative building design solutions. The essential skills that an architectural consultant should possess to accomplish his/her or her responsibilities include good creative ability and strong organizational, technical, and visualization skills. The education requirements for the job include possessing a college degree in architecture, business, or a related field.
An Architectural Designer is specialized in planning and designing structures/urban landscapes. They ensure that company policies and standards are maintained when providing services to clients.
Architectural consultants and architectural designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architectural Consultant | Architectural Designer | |
| Average salary | $72,886 | $59,122 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $129,000 | Between $45,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Franklin Town, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Slalom | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between an architectural consultant and an architectural designer in terms of educational background:
| Architectural Consultant | Architectural Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Architecture |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between architectural consultants' and architectural designers' demographics:
| Architectural Consultant | Architectural Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 16.4% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 6% |