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Exterior designer vs building architectural designer

The differences between exterior designers and building architectural designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an exterior designer, becoming a building architectural designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an exterior designer has an average salary of $93,819, which is higher than the $67,414 average annual salary of a building architectural designer.

The top three skills for an exterior designer include CAD, design concepts and photoshop. The most important skills for a building architectural designer are customer service, CAD, and revit.

Exterior designer vs building architectural designer overview

Exterior DesignerBuilding Architectural Designer
Yearly salary$93,819$67,414
Hourly rate$45.11$32.41
Growth rate--3%
Number of jobs43,80750,290
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4445
Years of experience412

Exterior designer vs building architectural designer salary

Exterior designers and building architectural designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Exterior DesignerBuilding Architectural Designer
Average salary$93,819$67,414
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $150,000Between $49,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CitySacramento, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyTesla-
Best paying industryAutomotive-

Differences between exterior designer and building architectural designer education

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

Exterior DesignerBuilding Architectural Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorBusinessArchitecture
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Exterior designer vs building architectural designer demographics

Here are the differences between exterior designers' and building architectural designers' demographics:

Exterior DesignerBuilding Architectural Designer
Average age4445
Gender ratioMale, 72.1% Female, 27.9%Male, 83.0% Female, 17.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 0.4% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 5.8% Asian, 5.2% White, 85.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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%
LGBT Percentage13%6%

Differences between exterior designer and building architectural designer duties and responsibilities

Exterior designer example responsibilities.

  • Develop customized user interaction models using object-orient prototyping.
  • Issue mass production drawings for various parts and vehicles.
  • Assist with cost and weight reports for the Acura MDX.
  • Create structural concepts, base on style data and underbody negotiation, and develop them into mass production parts.
  • Optimize production processes reducing unnecessary part cost without losing functionality and performance by designing new shapes or alterations for manufacturing.

Building architectural designer example 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.
  • Show more

Exterior designer vs building architectural designer skills

Common exterior designer skills
  • CAD, 51%
  • Design Concepts, 28%
  • Photoshop, 17%
  • Design Presentations, 4%
Common building architectural designer skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • CAD, 18%
  • Revit, 11%
  • HVAC, 6%
  • BIM, 6%
  • R, 5%

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