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Job outlook for structural architects in the United States
Are structural architect jobs in demand?
Structural architect job and salary trends over time
Structural architect jobs over time
Structural architect job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 30 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 31 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 30 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 30 | 0.00% |
Average structural architect salary over time
Structural architect salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $80,836 | $38.86 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $79,294 | $38.12 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $77,949 | $37.48 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $77,055 | $37.05 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $75,543 | $36.32 | +1.1% |
Structural architect jobs by state
Most common states for structural architects
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 185 | 27% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 209 | 20% |
| 3 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 486 | 16% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 122 | 16% |
| 5 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,602 | 13% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 783 | 13% |
| 7 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,263 | 12% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 860 | 12% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 680 | 12% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 447 | 12% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 159 | 12% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 117 | 12% |
| 13 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 189 | 11% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 917 | 10% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 558 | 10% |
| 16 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 109 | 10% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 59 | 10% |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,117 | 9% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 642 | 9% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 67 | 9% |
Structural Architect job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of structural architect experts
University of Florida
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
University Of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Idaho
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
University at Buffalo – The State University of New York
Seminole State College of Florida
Rochester Institute of Technology
NCARB
Kansas State University
College of Charleston
What will help Structural Architects increase their earning potential?
Rebecca Dolgas: 1. Pay attention to firm culture and benefits. You will be working long hours and closely with your team, you want to make sure these are people you could see yourself being comfortable around. In particular when it comes to mistakes. Most people take a little bit to adjust to their job. The first few months will be hard and you WILL mess up, that's okay just make sure that you are working for and with people who will help you to make corrections and continue to grow. Along the lines of growth, see what support systems they have for licensure. Testing is a time consuming and expensive process and many firms will help to cover these costs and the required time off, just be sure to ask.
What general advice would you give to a Structural Architect?
Martin Gold FAIA: The most widespread complaint from people in the field is that it consumes ones attention, requires long hours, and relative to other professions, such as medicine, law, accounting, or engineering, the pay is lower on a per hour basis. On the other hand, architecture is more of an art than other professions and offers opportunities for creative people to have prosperous careers. The famous French architect Le Corbusier would say, architecture is a way of life.
What Structural Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Grant Mosey Ph.D.: I would advise architecture students to be as flexible as possible. While NAAB accredited schools award 6,000 to 7,000 professional degrees per year, NCARB states that fewer than 3,500 architects reach licensure each year. This suggests that many of those educated as architects are actually finding work in allied subjects. I know of many graduates who are set to become architects who end up becoming real estate professionals, construction professionals, policy-makers, academics, and more. Even for those dead set on architectural practice, these opportunities in adjacent fields can open doors to more design-focused practice.
What will help Structural Architects increase their earning potential?
Grant Mosey Ph.D.: Familiarity with Building Information Modeling software like Revit is already all but a requirement to find professional work. Increasingly, firms are also looking for those who are capable of using visual programming like Grasshopper or Dynamo not only to generate forms but to optimize their workflow. In addition to those, professionals should familiarize themselves with modeling programs including SketchUp and Rhino and visualization platforms like VRay, Enscape, and Twin Motion. Soft skills like being personable and being able to present ideas extemporaneously will never go out of style.
What will help Structural Architects increase their earning potential?
Alfredo Fernandez-Gonzalez: In addition to mastering the skills that will become more important in the next 3-5 years, committing to work long hours and becoming credentialed in LEED, WELL, and/or other building performance standards is a way to quickly increase your worth for a firm. However, in the long run, working towards becoming a licensed architect is the best way to advance in the profession.
Dak Kopec Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Coordinator, BA Interior Architecture and Design and Master of Design ProgramUniversity Of Nevada, Las Vegas
School of Architecture
What experience really stands out on Structural Architect resumes?
Dak Kopec Ph.D.: Experience in the areas where one intends to practice. If someone wants to work in hospitality design, an employer will see what kind of experience they have. This is why selecting one's internship location is so important.
Many employers are also looking to see how well the Interior Designer can think outside the box and develop innovative design ideas.
An area of specialized knowledge that will complement the existing design team. Most firms are looking for future leaders.
Randall Randall
Program Head Architecture, ProfessorUniversity of Idaho
Architecture Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Structural Architects?
Randall Randall: Adept with hand-drawing, model making, CAD, and graphics software (photoshop, illustrator). Experience with some kind of hands-on-making/construction is a plus.
Michael Brazley Ph.D.
Associate Professor of ArchitectureSouthern Illinois University Carbondale
School of Architecture
What general advice would you give to a Structural Architect?
Michael Brazley Ph.D.: Work experience in an architect's office is best.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Structural Architects to find work opportunities?
James Shields: Areas of the country that have been experiencing booming growth rates like North Carolina, Texas, and Colorado are expected to generate increased demand for architectural services as the pandemic is controlled. Look for cities whose growth rates top the US charts as you contemplate a location to settle after your time at the University, but don't be afraid to use the contacts you have already developed elsewhere as a rising economic tide raises all boats.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Structural Architect job market given the pandemic?
Korydon Smith: To the above point, I anticipate growth in both the mainstream field of healthcare design (e.g., hospital design) and emergent fields at the intersection of architecture and health, such as renovating buildings to improve air quality, accommodate flexible functioning and spatial distancing, etc.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Structural Architects to find work opportunities?
Korydon Smith: Architectural work tends to be in population centers. Architectural practice has become globalized, where many firms work in multiple cities in the U.S. and abroad. Growth in mid- and large-sized cities in the U.S. will continue; likewise for Europe and Asia. Latin America and Africa are emergent markets.
Christy Graves
Professor/Program ManagerSeminole State College of Florida
School of Engineering, Design and Construction
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Structural Architects in the next 3-5 years?
Christy Graves: BIM (building information modeling) technology will continue to become more important in the architectural engineering technology profession.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Structural Architect job market given the pandemic?
Christy Graves: From what I've seen, I believe job opportunities will continue to be available for architectural technology engineering graduates. While many industries have suffered from layoffs and unemployment during this pandemic, it seems that the built environment is still going strong. I think one of the biggest changes we may see is that once the pandemic is over, many employees are going to work remotely full-time, or the amount of time that was previously spent in the office environment will decrease.
What experience really stands out on Structural Architect resumes?
Christy Graves: Software skills, such as AutoCAD and Revit.
Clyde Eiríkur Hull
Professor of Strategic ManagementRochester Institute of Technology
Saunders College of Business
How do you envision technology impacting Structural Architects in the next 5 years?
Clyde Eiríkur Hull: Architecture is being hit with virtual reality and augmented reality. Anything you can design now can be built in virtual reality for modeling. But the trend toward digital work is going to impact architectural designs for a long time to come. How will future homes be designed when many residents plan to work from home? How will professional buildings be impacted? Those are questions that architects are answering right now.
What type of skills will young Structural Architects need?
Michael Armstrong: In most states, students interested in becoming architects will need to graduate from a NAAB-accredited program, earn experience through the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®), and pass the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®). These programs ensure young graduates earn knowledge and skills in a wide range of areas—like working with clients, determining project schedules, reviewing building codes and regulations, and establishing sustainability goals—and set them up for a successful career in architecture. For specific state requirements, explore our Licensing Requirements Tool.
We also encourage graduates, and all who are considering the licensed practice as a career, to explore our newly-launched Destination Architect site, an interactive guide with video tutorials and useful tips.
Fred Hasler
John W. & Dorothy M. Burke Architectural Engineering ChairKansas State University
Department Architectural Engineering and Construction Science
What experience really stands out on Structural Architect resumes?
Fred Hasler: Far and away, the experience that stands out on our students' resumes is their summer internships, where they get to work on structural, mechanical, or electrical buildings systems design. We are fortunate that most of our students have multiple summer internships before they graduate. A recurring theme that we hear from our industry employers is that our faculty's extensive, across-the-board industry experience makes our students highly sought for internships, which places them in a better position to hit the ground running in their careers when they graduate.
What Structural Architect skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Barry Stiefel Ph.D.: I highly recommend a gap year between high school and undergrad, or between undergrad and grad school, if they are unsure of what they want to do.
College and graduate degrees are costly these days, so they should be done as a means to end and not to pass the time (unless one is in a financial position to do so). During that time off, they should find employment (regular, temp, part-time, or apprenticeship) related to something that they are interested in and volunteer at a relevant organization or government agency. This way, the person continues to build their resume and professional social network.
Putting yourself out there is very important for making informed decisions on what career moves you want to do next. Even adverse employment and volunteer experiences can be beneficial because you now have learned what you don't want to do. Knowing what you don't want to do before spending significant money on a college or graduate degree is a financially smart idea.