Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between architectural project managers and project architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become an architectural project manager, becoming a project architect takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an architectural project manager has an average salary of $102,292, which is higher than the $76,812 average annual salary of a project architect.
The top three skills for an architectural project manager include revit, project management and healthcare. The most important skills for a project architect are revit, autocad, and sketch.
| Architectural Project Manager | Project Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $102,292 | $76,812 |
| Hourly rate | $49.18 | $36.93 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 102,882 | 82,192 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 46 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
An architectural project manager is someone who leads an architectural project from the conception stage to its implementation. His/Her or her tasks include leading a team of designers and junior architects, assessing existing facilities, and reformulating building programs. The skills that an architectural project manager should possess include knowledge of building administrative codes and good communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. Other requirements to qualify for the position include possessing a bachelor's degree in architecture, civil engineering, or a related field and prior architecture-related work experience.
A project architect spearheads and oversees a construction project's design and development procedures from the planning stages to its completion, ensuring it adheres to standards, budgets, and deadlines. They primarily coordinate with the clients to understand and identify project needs, leading the engineers and contractors throughout the project. They are also typically in charge of preparing all of the necessary documents and ensuring that procedures adhere to state and federal laws, including the environmental, zoning, and safety standards. Additionally, a project architect maintains an open communication line with the clients, updating them regularly.
Architectural project managers and project architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Architectural Project Manager | Project Architect | |
| Average salary | $102,292 | $76,812 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $166,000 | Between $53,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Western Alliance Bank |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Construction |
There are a few differences between an architectural project manager and a project architect in terms of educational background:
| Architectural Project Manager | Project Architect | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Architecture | Architecture |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between architectural project managers' and project architects' demographics:
| Architectural Project Manager | Project Architect | |
| Average age | 46 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 80.9% Female, 19.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 15% |