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Architectural internship vs project designer

The differences between architectural interns 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 internship, 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 $53,914 average annual salary of an architectural internship.

The top three skills for an architectural internship include sketch, auto cad and powerpoint. The most important skills for a project designer are revit, sketch, and design concepts.

Architectural internship vs project designer overview

Architectural InternshipProject Designer
Yearly salary$53,914$64,943
Hourly rate$25.92$31.22
Growth rate-3%1%
Number of jobs57,98160,364
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4542
Years of experience124

What does an architectural internship do?

The job of architectural interns is to assist an architect with all aspects of architectural work. Their duties and responsibilities may include maintaining project files, conducting research on construction sites such as zoning laws and regulations, and preparing presentations for clients. They are also expected to create 3D models and do drafting. The skills and qualifications required for this role include a degree in architecture or a related field, in-depth knowledge of 3D modeling software such as Autodesk and AutoCAD, and hand drafting skills.

What does a project designer do?

A Project Designer provides assistance in project design and development activities based on customer requirements. They develop solutions to client architectural complexities.

Architectural internship vs project designer salary

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

Architectural InternshipProject Designer
Average salary$53,914$64,943
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $69,000Between $47,000 And $89,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateVermontNew Mexico
Best paying companyMicron TechnologyApple
Best paying industryProfessionalManufacturing

Differences between architectural internship and project designer education

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

Architectural InternshipProject Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorArchitectureArchitecture
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCornell University

Architectural internship vs project designer demographics

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

Architectural InternshipProject Designer
Average age4542
Gender ratioMale, 62.7% Female, 37.3%Male, 66.5% Female, 33.5%
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, 1.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.6% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage6%23%

Differences between architectural internship and project designer duties and responsibilities

Architectural internship example responsibilities.

  • Manage a team of 6 experts in Cisco networks, VMware, Cisco UCS, NetApp and many other technologies.
  • Lead microarchitecture and RTL designer of cache control and memory control for Intel's next generation server microprocessor.
  • Web development HTML, CSS, MySQL and SQL, PHP, jQuery, AJAX.
  • Utilize REVIT to produce architectural working drawings.6.
  • Architect and design cache controller that creates significant new revenue.
  • Troubleshoot and repair used CNC vertical mill and plasma for personal use.
  • Show more

Project designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead efforts to redesign and convert existing self-pace and instructor-le course materials into eLearning and web-base formats.
  • Provide 2D AutoCAD and 3D Sketchup drawings for client presentations.
  • Implement AIA layering standards and create file management standards for the office.
  • Calculate size of ductwork, hydronic piping, plumbing, and gas piping.
  • Time management, procedure, and field sketch expertise, must be absolute, and perfect.
  • Prepare and deliver construction documents using Revit and AutoCAD for each project on time and within budget.
  • Show more

Architectural internship vs project designer skills

Common architectural internship skills
  • Sketch, 14%
  • Auto CAD, 7%
  • PowerPoint, 7%
  • BIM, 5%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 5%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 4%
Common project designer skills
  • Revit, 17%
  • Sketch, 8%
  • Design Concepts, 5%
  • Auto CAD, 5%
  • SketchUp, 5%
  • Design Development, 4%

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