How To Become A Senior Architect/Design Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a senior architect/design manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Elaine Chow AIA, RA, NCARB

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a senior architect/design manager. For example, did you know that they make an average of $53.26 an hour? That's $110,774 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 3,300 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a senior architect/design manager?

Elaine Chow AIA, RA, NCARB

Director of Student Professional Development, Clinical Assistant Professor - Architecture, NCARB Licensing Advisor, SUNY at Buffalo

Adaptability will always be an important skill. There will be software improvements and changes that you need to stay aware of and technology that will benefit both the design and construction sides of the industry. Communication will remain an important part of the way we work together in teams.

ScoreSenior Architect/Design ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.9

Avg. Salary $110,774

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.2

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 12.53%

Black or African American 1.94%

Hispanic or Latino 9.39%

Unknown 3.80%

White 72.05%

Gender

female 21.74%

male 78.26%

Age - 45

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 - 45

Stress level

7.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a senior architect/design manager

Explore senior architect/design manager education requirements

Most common senior architect/design manager degrees

Bachelor's

45.0 %

Master's

40.0 %

Associate

10.0 %

Start to develop specific senior architect/design manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Design Process	100.00%

Complete relevant senior architect/design manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 2-4 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior architect/design managers 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 a senior architect/design manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior architect/design manager resumes.

Research senior architect/design manager duties and responsibilities

Manage the development infrastructure, change control, configuration items and application security utilizing knowledge of information resource management.
Provide customers with think leadership for RFID technologies and guidance on implementation and integration of RFID solutions into existing infrastructure.
Develop CSS files and front-end page code.
Coach and train in all aspects of job CSS performance for design and clerical.

Prepare your senior architect/design manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior architect/design manager 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 a senior architect/design manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable senior architect/design manager resume templates

Build a professional senior architect/design manager 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 senior architect/design manager resume.