Post job

Builder vs architect

The differences between builders and architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a builder, becoming an architect takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an architect has an average salary of $86,635, which is higher than the $33,117 average annual salary of a builder.

The top three skills for a builder include work ethic, safety rules and construction sites. The most important skills for an architect are cloud, java, and infrastructure.

Builder vs architect overview

BuilderArchitect
Yearly salary$33,117$86,635
Hourly rate$15.92$41.65
Growth rate2%3%
Number of jobs4,07494,621
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4245
Years of experience124

What does a builder do?

Builders are responsible for managing, coordinating, and working on the construction. They are also responsible for repairing and maintaining commercial and residential buildings. They oversee a project by either making arrangements with subcontractors to finish specific jobs or doing the work themselves. Builders need to ensure that the construction projects meet their client's requirements as well as the government and industry regulations. They often perform their work in an industrial setting. Their day-to-day activity depends on their specialization and level of experience.

What does an architect do?

Architects are licensed professionals who specialize in art and science of design, building constructions, and structures. They play a vital role in the construction and not only responsible for the appearance but also the safety of users. They ensure that every structure is functional, safe, cost-effective, and suit the needs of the future occupants. They closely monitor the working progress to make sure that the project is built according to plan. Some architects are focused mainly on creating designs while some are exclusive in the production of building plans or "blueprints".

Builder vs architect salary

Builders and architects have different pay scales, as shown below.

BuilderArchitect
Average salary$33,117$86,635
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $44,000Between $54,000 And $137,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonAlaska
Best paying companyGoogleMeta
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between builder and architect education

There are a few differences between a builder and an architect in terms of educational background:

BuilderArchitect
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessArchitecture
Most common college-Cornell University

Builder vs architect demographics

Here are the differences between builders' and architects' demographics:

BuilderArchitect
Average age4245
Gender ratioMale, 79.1% Female, 20.9%Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.7% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 16.0% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage2%15%

Differences between builder and architect duties and responsibilities

Builder example responsibilities.

  • Modify existing client websites with new HTML and CSS to achieve stakeholder requirements.
  • Manage the office for a small business; invoicing, accounts receivable, accounting, taxes, payroll, etc.
  • Operate a variety of tools, including power saws, planers, jointers, routers, and pneumatic equipment.
  • Boat builder Mig and tig welder
  • Replace broken pieces of the chep pallets
  • Preform aluminum spray transfer and Tig welding.
  • Show more

Architect example responsibilities.

  • Manage Daimler resources for development of RFC programs
  • Manage overall testing activities withing the group including functinal, system and regression testing.
  • Manage the company website using HTML and CSS to produce an easily read website that customers can access more intuitively.
  • Manage GitLab and Jenkins deployment environment to support automate AWS- development software builds.
  • Lead re-architecture and implementation of cloud solution for enterprise auto-backup of individual computing devices.
  • Provide insight and manage all technology relate aspects with presentations and communications at Sr. management and CxO level.
  • Show more

Builder vs architect skills

Common builder skills
  • Work Ethic, 21%
  • Safety Rules, 11%
  • Construction Sites, 10%
  • Windows, 7%
  • Quality Standards, 6%
  • Construction Process, 4%
Common architect skills
  • Cloud, 10%
  • Java, 8%
  • Infrastructure, 7%
  • Azure, 5%
  • AWS, 5%
  • Digital Transformation, 5%

Browse construction and extraction jobs