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The differences between architectural designers and structural 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 structural designer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a structural designer has an average salary of $63,273, 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 structural designer are revit, structural design, and BIM.
| Architectural Designer | Structural Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $59,122 | $63,273 |
| Hourly rate | $28.42 | $30.42 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 54,358 | 51,432 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
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 Structural Designer designs, develops, and supervises the construction of new buildings and bridges, or extensions to existing properties or other structures. They review and update construction drawings as well as communicate project problems and flaws to managers.
Architectural designers and structural designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architectural Designer | Structural Designer | |
| Average salary | $59,122 | $63,273 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $77,000 | Between $47,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Tesla |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Construction |
There are a few differences between an architectural designer and a structural designer in terms of educational background:
| Architectural Designer | Structural Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between architectural designers' and structural designers' demographics:
| Architectural Designer | Structural Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% |
| 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, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.8% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |