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The differences between architectural designers and project designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an architectural designer, becoming a project designer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a project designer has an average salary of $64,943, 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 project designer are revit, sketch, and design concepts.
| Architectural Designer | Project Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $59,122 | $64,943 |
| Hourly rate | $28.42 | $31.22 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 54,358 | 60,364 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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.
A Project Designer provides assistance in project design and development activities based on customer requirements. They develop solutions to client architectural complexities.
Architectural designers and project designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architectural Designer | Project Designer | |
| Average salary | $59,122 | $64,943 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $77,000 | Between $47,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an architectural designer and a project designer in terms of educational background:
| Architectural Designer | Project Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Architecture |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between architectural designers' and project designers' demographics:
| Architectural Designer | Project Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% | Male, 66.5% Female, 33.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 1.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.6% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 23% |