How To Become An Information Architect: What It Is and Career Path

What is an information architect and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Alison Kwok PhD, RA, FAIA, LEED BD+C, CPHC

Information architects develop and create web, desktop, and smartphone device layout, diagrams, and user interfaces to make details viewed as more straightforward and user-friendly. Information architects employ research and innovation to design, interact, and execute organizations' technology architecture. They develop how websites and apps get viewed by consumers, and they typically work with a team of designers.

In addition to these, some information architects establish a blueprint or a track to display design progress so that stakeholders can address their results. They may be using cable interfaces, interface flows, scenarios, site maps, or designs to provide stakeholders with architecture and guidance.

They're required to have core skills like experience with team leadership, interacting with business and technology stakeholders, and data modeling to have higher chances of success in this position.

Information architects are in high demand for their highly technical skills. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment for all Computer Network Architects, including Information Architects, to grow by nine percent through 2024.

What general advice would you give to an information architect?

Dr. Alison Kwok PhD, RA, FAIA, LEED BD+C, CPHC

Associate Department Head, Professor, University of Oregon

Diversify your experiences (and expectations); gain knowledge in a variety of different areas and certifications. Curate your portfolio to show a range of the kinds of work that you're able to offer. Get out of the comfort zone of doing only what you know "how to do" and challenge with incremental bits of knowledge.

ScoreInformation ArchitectUS Average

Salary

8.2

Avg. Salary $121,945

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.0

Growth rate 21%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 29.31%

Black or African American 4.66%

Hispanic or Latino 8.44%

Unknown 4.87%

White 52.55%

Gender

female 33.07%

male 66.93%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

4.0

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an information architect

Explore information architect education requirements

Most common information architect degrees

Bachelor's

67.9 %

Master's

22.5 %

Associate

5.3 %

Start to develop specific information architect skills

Skills	Percentages
Java	6.23%
Data Architecture	5.51%
Data Models	5.42%
Metadata	4.71%
Data Quality	4.25%

Complete relevant information architect training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information architects learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an information architect based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information architect resumes.

Research information architect duties and responsibilities

Manage whole UNIX file system and monitor all UNIX process.
Lead, document, and report on the daily scrum meetings.
Serve as an SME on technical and policy issues to high level managers and technical leads for national systems.
Manage the metadata repository and set of reference parameters for external and internal web content.

Get information architect experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become an information architect. The most common roles before becoming an information architect include data architect, consultant team lead and project manager.

Prepare your information architect resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information architect resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an information architect resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable information architect resume templates

Build a professional information architect resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your information architect resume.