How to hire a building architectural designer

How to hire a building architectural designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step building architectural designer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a building architectural designer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new building architectural designer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the building architectural designer you need to hire. Certain building architectural designer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a building architectural designer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a building architectural designer that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of building architectural designers.

   Type of Building Architectural Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Building Architectural Designer	Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.	$23-44
   Design Consultant	A design consultant is a professional who provides expertise incorporating functionality and aesthetics to a space or product based on the evaluation of the needs of customers or clients. Design consultants may collaborate with other professionals such as architects, graphic designers, or fashion designers to cater to the needs of their customers... Show more	$24-57
   Interior Design Consultant	An interior design consultant is responsible for designing the interior space of a client's property according to their specifications and budget requirements. Interior design consultants draft their initial layouts, including the cost forecasting and resources for the operations, to determine the client's approval or revise plans as necessary... Show more	$20-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • CAD
   • Revit
   • HVAC
   • BIM
   • R
   • Sketch
   • Solidworks
   • Design Process
   • CNC
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Windows
   • GIS
   • Commercial Buildings

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the development of BIM modeling content for the architecture team as a direct report to the executive and lead architects.
   • Install doors, windows, flooring (laminate and tile), frame walls, build and design shelves and closets.
   • Repair siding, roof replacement, doors and windows under codes and contracts.
   • Develop customized user interaction models using object-orient prototyping.
   • Conceptualize marketing campaigns that leverage Facebook and social media platforms that are recognized as the new best practice in public engagement.
   • Review of installations and document deficiencies for the client to ensure the design meets codes and contract documents using PowerPoint presentations.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your building architectural designer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A building architectural designer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, building architectural designers' average salary in alabama is 38% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level building architectural designers earn 47% less than senior-level building architectural designers.
   • Certifications. A building architectural designer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a building architectural designer's salary.

   Average building architectural designer salary

   $67,414yearly

   $32.41 hourly rate

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   Entry-level building architectural designer salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a building architectural designer job description

   A building architectural designer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a building architectural designer job description:

   Building architectural designer job description example

   About Larson Design Group
   
   Larson Design Group (LDG) is an employee-owned (ESOP), Architectural, Engineering, and Surveying Firm. Since our founding in 1986, we've been teaming with clients nationwide to provide responsive, innovative solutions by offering an extraordinary depth and breadth of capabilities and embracing sustainable business practices. For more than 30 years, these principles have guided our work and laid the foundation for a robust growth that has elevated our aspirations even higher. From organizations both local and national in scope, we're being recognized with awards and climbing the ranks of industry lists. We are expanding our footprint across the nation and looking to add more top talent to our team. We have fourteen office locations across Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Arizona, Oklahoma and Florida. We offer a flexible work environment, competitive benefits package, and continued professional development. Come join the excitement at LDG!
   
   Impact and Opportunity:
   
   The Architectural Designer will apply intermediate architectural principles to complete design computations, prepare written technical reports, design plans, and details. The Architectural Designer may be called upon to oversee standard project development and make minor project decisions.
   
   Key Responsibilities:
   
   * Develops technically accurate, clean, and deliverable drawings.
   * Writes specifications, reviews submittals, and coordinates project submissions.
   * Coordinates the preparation of advanced multi-discipline drawing sets as required for assigned projects, including coordination with technical, administrative, and other design staff.
   * Promotes, utilizes, and supports quality assurance and quality control processes to improve the quality of deliverables and reduce design errors & omissions, thereby resulting in a reduction in claims. Reviews and coordinates technical staff work prior to submission.
   * Researches and understands code compliance requirements for assigned projects.
   * Ability to independently create simple standard details that may be required for a project under guidance of supervisor
   
   Requirements:
   
   * Education: Associate or Bachelor's Degree in a Technical discipline preferred.
   * Experience: Minimum of eight (8) years' experience with another A/E/S firm preferred.
   * Licensure: N/A
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   
   * Must have a strong desire to expand knowledge base and undertake new responsibilities.
   * Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook), be a strong communicator, and have strong presentation skills.
   * Must also be self-motivating and able to mentor. Proficiency with Revit, CAD, Civil 3D, Sketch-Up, Photoshop and other related software programs.
   
   EEO Statement
   
   Larson Design Group, Inc. is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find building architectural designers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find building architectural designer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit building architectural designers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new building architectural designer

   Once you've selected the best building architectural designer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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