Become A Staff Architect
Where do you want to work?
Working As A Staff Architect
- Thinking Creatively
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Mostly Sitting
Stressful
$53,643
Average Salary
What Does A Staff Architect Do
How To Become A Staff Architect
There are typically three main steps to becoming a licensed architect: completing a professional degree in architecture, gaining relevant experience through a paid internship, and passing the Architect Registration Examination.
EducationIn all states, earning a professional degree in architecture is typically the first step to becoming an architect. Most architects earn their professional degree through a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture degree program, intended for students with no previous architectural training. Many earn a master’s degree in architecture, which can take 1 to 5 years in addition to the time spent earning a bachelor’s degree. The amount of time required depends on the extent of the student’s previous education and training in architecture.
A typical bachelor’s degree program includes courses in architectural history and theory, building design with an emphasis on computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), structures, construction methods, professional practices, math, physical sciences, and liberal arts. Central to most architectural programs is the design studio, where students apply the skills and concepts learned in the classroom to create drawings and three-dimensional models of their designs.
Currently, 34 states require that architects hold a professional degree in architecture from one of the 123 schools of architecture accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). State licensing requirements can be found at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). In the states that do not have that requirement, applicants can become licensed with 8 to 13 years of related work experience in addition to a high school diploma. However, most architects in these states still obtain a professional degree in architecture.
TrainingAll state architectural registration boards require architecture graduates to complete a lengthy paid internship—generally 3 years of experience—before they may sit for the Architect Registration Examination. Most new graduates complete their training period by working at architectural firms through the Intern Development Program (IDP), a program run by NCARB that guides students through the internship process. Some states allow a portion of the training to occur in the offices of employers in related careers, such as engineers and general contractors. Architecture students who complete internships while still in school can count some of that time toward the 3-year training period.
Interns in architectural firms may help design part of a project. They may help prepare architectural documents and drawings, build models, and prepare construction drawings on CADD. Interns may also research building codes and write specifications for building materials, installation criteria, the quality of finishes, and other related details. Licensed architects will take the documents that interns produce, make edits to them, finalize plans, and then sign and seal the documents.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsAll states and the District of Columbia require architects to be licensed. Licensing requirements typically include completing a professional degree in architecture, gaining relevant experience through a paid internship, and passing the Architect Registration Examination.
Most states also require some form of continuing education to keep a license, and some additional states are expected to adopt mandatory continuing education. Requirements vary by state but usually involve additional education through workshops, university classes, conferences, self-study courses, or other sources.
A growing number of architects voluntarily seek certification from NCARB. This certification makes it easier to become licensed across states, because it is the primary requirement for reciprocity of licensing among state boards that are NCARB members. In 2014, approximately one-third of all licensed architects had the certification.
AdvancementAfter many years of work experience, some architects advance to become architectural and engineering managers. These managers typically coordinate the activities of employees and may work on larger construction projects.
Important QualitiesAnalytical skills. Architects must understand the content of designs and the context in which they were created. For example, architects must understand the locations of mechanical systems and how those systems affect building operations.
Communication skills. Architects share their ideas, both in oral presentations and in writing, with clients, other architects, and workers who help prepare drawings. Many also give presentations to explain their ideas and designs.
Creativity. Architects design the overall look of houses, buildings, and other structures. Therefore, the final product should be attractive and functional.
Organizational skills. Architects often manage contracts. Therefore, they must keep records related to the details of a project, including total cost, materials used, and progress.
Technical skills. Architects need to use CADD technology to create plans as part of building information modeling (BIM).
Visualization skills. Architects must be able to see how the parts of a structure relate to each other. They also must be able to visualize how the overall building will look once completed.
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Staff Architect jobs
Staff Architect Career Paths
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Senior Landscape Architect 5.7 years
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Project Architect 5.1 years
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Architectural Project Manager 4.3 years
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Staff Architect 4.0 years
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Job Captain 3.5 years
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Architect Assistant 2.0 years
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Junior Architect 1.8 years
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Architectural Internship 23.9%
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Architect 15.4%
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Project Manager 12.0%
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Project Architect 7.7%
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Internship 5.6%
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Job Captain 3.4%
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Student Internship 3.0%
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Designer 2.6%
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Computer Aide 2.6%
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Associate 2.6%
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Draftsman/Designer 2.1%
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Systems Engineer 2.1%
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Project Designer 1.7%
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Instructor 1.7%
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Owner 1.7%
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Project Leader 1.7%
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Design Internship 1.7%
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Project Manager 20.7%
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Project Architect 17.9%
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Architect 10.1%
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Principal 6.7%
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Principal Architect 4.1%
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Senior Architect 4.1%
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Consultant 3.9%
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Associate 3.1%
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Design Consultant 2.6%
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Construction Manager 2.3%
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Owner 2.1%
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Designer 1.8%
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Instructor 1.8%
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Partner 1.8%
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Architect Manager 1.8%
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Design Architect 1.8%
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Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Staff Architect
Top Careers After Staff Architect
Staff Architect Demographics
Gender
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Male
70.4% -
Female
25.1% -
Unknown
4.5%
Ethnicity
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White
74.2% -
Asian
12.3% -
Hispanic or Latino
8.8% -
Unknown
4.1% -
Black or African American
0.6%
Languages Spoken
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Spanish
66.7% -
French
16.7% -
German
5.6% -
Portuguese
5.6% -
Cantonese
5.6%
Staff Architect
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Staff Architect Education
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New Jersey Institute of Technology
9.2% -
University of Kansas
7.9% -
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
7.9% -
Illinois Institute of Technology
6.6% -
University of Texas at Arlington
5.3% -
Louisiana Tech University
5.3% -
Kansas State University
5.3% -
Catholic University of America
5.3% -
Louisiana State University and A&M College
3.9% -
Savannah College of Art and Design
3.9% -
Temple University
3.9% -
Drexel University
3.9% -
University of Illinois at Chicago
3.9% -
State University of New York Buffalo
3.9% -
Iowa State University
3.9% -
University of Phoenix
3.9% -
University of Miami
3.9% -
Lawrence Technological University
3.9% -
University of Arizona
3.9% -
Howard University
3.9% -
Architecture 60.6%
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Environmental Design 5.8%
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Business 4.3%
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Urban Planning 3.4%
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Management 2.9%
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Drafting And Design 2.4%
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Finance 2.4%
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Computer Science 1.9%
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Interior Design 1.4%
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Project Management 1.4%
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Computer Engineering 1.4%
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Education 1.4%
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Health Education 1.0%
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Bachelors
46.4% -
Masters
33.1% -
Other
13.4% -
Doctorate
2.5% -
Associate
2.1% -
Certificate
1.7% -
Diploma
0.8%
Schools
Majors
Degrees
Staff Architect
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Real Staff Architect Salaries
Job Title
|
Company
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Salary
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Architect (Software) | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online | Glendale, CA | Nov 09, 2016 | $185,455 |
| Staff Architect | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online | Glendale, CA | Apr 14, 2016 | $180,054 |
| Staff Architect (Software) | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online | Glendale, CA | Sep 10, 2013 | $164,960 |
| Staff Firmware Architect/Wlan Protocol | Qualcomm Atheros, Inc. | San Jose, CA | Jul 14, 2016 | $162,926 - $171,500 |
| Staff CPU Architect | Soft MacHines, Inc. | Santa Clara, CA | Feb 09, 2016 | $154,939 - $170,000 |
| Staff CPU Architect | Soft MacHines, Inc. | Santa Clara, CA | Feb 09, 2016 | $154,737 - $170,000 |
| Staff Microprocessor Architect | Soft MacHines, Inc. | Santa Clara, CA | Feb 17, 2016 | $150,000 - $170,000 |
| Staff Microprocessor Architect | Soft MacHines, Inc. | Santa Clara, CA | Feb 24, 2015 | $150,000 - $170,000 |
| Senior Staff Customer Engagement Architect | Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | San Jose, CA | Sep 18, 2014 | $150,000 - $240,500 |
| Staff Firmware Architect/Cnss Software | Qualcomm Atheros, Inc. | San Jose, CA | Jul 19, 2016 | $147,368 - $171,500 |
| Staff Firmware Architect/Cnss Software | Qualcomm Atheros, Inc. | San Jose, CA | Apr 25, 2016 | $147,368 - $171,500 |
| Senior Staff Architect | Soft MacHines, Inc. | Santa Clara, CA | Jul 14, 2013 | $145,000 - $170,000 |
| Staff Architect | GEP Administrative Services, Inc. | Burbank, CA | Mar 10, 2015 | $97,000 |
| Staff Decision Analytics Architect | Inovant, LLC | Austin, TX | Mar 23, 2015 | $96,304 - $144,300 |
| Staff Architect | JOEB Moore & Partners LLC | Greenwich, CT | Mar 01, 2014 | $80,000 |
| Tecxcloud Staff Architect | IBM Corporation | Parkton, NC | Apr 05, 2016 | $70,470 - $75,520 |
| Staff Architect | Sorg and Associates, PC | Washington, DC | May 11, 2013 | $66,248 |
| Staff Architect (Unregistered) | Cox Graae + Spack Architects | Washington, DC | Jan 05, 2016 | $65,000 |
| Staff Architect | Sorg and Associates, PC | Washington, DC | Apr 27, 2012 | $63,700 |
| Staff Architect | Prime General LLC | Hollywood, FL | Nov 30, 2013 | $54,304 |
| Staff Architect | WDG Architecture, PLLC | Washington, DC | Aug 23, 2015 | $54,158 |
| Staff Architect | WDG Architecture PLLC | Washington, DC | Sep 01, 2015 | $54,158 |
| Staff Architect | WDG Architecture, PLLC | Washington, DC | Aug 03, 2016 | $53,976 |
| Staff Architect | PGN Architects, PLLC | Washington, DC | Sep 26, 2015 | $53,643 - $70,386 |
| Staff Architect | WDG Architecture, PLLC | Washington, DC | Oct 24, 2016 | $53,643 |
| Staff Architect | WDG Architecture, PLLC | Washington, DC | May 28, 2016 | $53,643 |
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Top Skills for A Staff Architect
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Top Staff Architect Skills
- Architectural Services
- Design Development
- Schematic Design
- STAFF ARCHITECT Provided architectural services to architectural firms throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area.
- Direct involvement in production of design development, construction documents and construction administration phases of high rise hospitality project.
- Managed and completed over 15 projects from schematic design to construction administration.
- Utilized AutoCad and Microsoft Office applications
- Commenced position as Graduate Architect when finished at Carnegie Mellon, then became staff Architect when successfully passed Architectural Registration Exam.
Top Staff Architect Employers
Lessard Design, Inc.
Lessard Group Inc.
Inovant, LLC
Oppenheim Architecture and Design LLP
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