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Architectural designer vs designer

The differences between architectural designers and designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an architectural designer and a designer. Additionally, a designer has an average salary of $66,347, which is higher than the $59,122 average annual salary of an architectural designer.

The top three skills for an architectural designer include sketch, sketchup and BIM. The most important skills for a designer are sketch, customer service, and graphic design.

Architectural designer vs designer overview

Architectural DesignerDesigner
Yearly salary$59,122$66,347
Hourly rate$28.42$31.90
Growth rate-3%3%
Number of jobs54,35852,433
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4538
Years of experience1212

What does an architectural designer do?

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.

What does a designer do?

A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.

Architectural designer vs designer salary

Architectural designers and designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Architectural DesignerDesigner
Average salary$59,122$66,347
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $77,000Between $45,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateVermontWashington
Best paying companyAppleMeta
Best paying industryProfessionalTechnology

Differences between architectural designer and designer education

There are a few differences between an architectural designer and a designer in terms of educational background:

Architectural DesignerDesigner
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorArchitectureGraphic Design
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Pennsylvania

Architectural designer vs designer demographics

Here are the differences between architectural designers' and designers' demographics:

Architectural DesignerDesigner
Average age4538
Gender ratioMale, 70.1% Female, 29.9%Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage6%13%

Differences between architectural designer and designer duties and responsibilities

Architectural designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage in- house projects and AutoCAD drawings.
  • Manage design and coordinate construction of grind up, interior finish, conversions and remodel projects.
  • Lead the development of BIM modeling content for the architecture team as a direct report to the executive and lead architects.
  • Submit drawings to OSHPD for approval.
  • Submit & review OSHPD back check comments.
  • Participate in sustainable practices for leer certified projects.
  • Show more

Designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead & design all creative content stemming from apparel design to web identity.
  • Manage various PCB designs utilizing state of the art DFM techniques and comply with company standards.
  • Utilize CSS, DHTML, HTML, and JavaScript for cross browser, cross platform compatibility and consistency.
  • Develop different kinds of functions globally, locally for the development of forms using JavaScript, CSS.
  • Transform customer specifications into usable SolidWorks 3D models and assemblies from which all manufacturing are derived.
  • Process ECR's and ECO's using Windchill.
  • Show more

Architectural designer vs designer skills

Common architectural designer skills
  • Sketch, 15%
  • SketchUp, 7%
  • BIM, 6%
  • Architectural Design, 6%
  • Building Codes, 5%
  • Construction Drawings, 4%
Common designer skills
  • Sketch, 10%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Graphic Design, 6%
  • CSS, 5%
  • HTML, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%

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