As the U.S. economy continues to strengthen, compensation across all architectural staff positions averaged $84,000, up about 2.8% per year from early 2015 levels, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2017 Compensation Report.
The biannual report provides salary data for 39 architecture firm positions in 26 states, 25 metro areas and 17 cities as well as industry salary trends and analysis on where the market is headed.
Other key findings:
Architectural salaries have modestly exceeded gains in the broader economy in the last 15 years.
Compensation gains, net of inflation, for architecture positions averaged 1.5% annually over the 2015-16 period.
Architecture firms continue to add new types of employee benefits to encourage staff retention and growth.
Salary calculator:
Also updated for 2017 is the AIA Salary Calculator. This free tool provides topline data on architecture position salaries by firm size and region of the country to emerging professionals and others.
Related Stories
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: Is the road to the future the path of least resistance? Sasha Reed, Bluebeam (sponsored)
Bluebeam’s Sasha Reed discusses why AEC leaders should give their teams permission to responsibly break things and create ecosystems of people, process, and technology.
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: Incubating innovation through R&D and product development, Jonatan Schumacher, Thornton Tomasetti
Thornton Tomasetti’s Jonatan Schumacher presents the firm’s business model for developing, incubating, and delivering cutting-edge tools and solutions for the firm, and the greater AEC market.
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: The future of computational design, Ben Juckes, Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign
Yazdani’s Ben Juckes discusses the firm’s tech-centric culture, where scripting has become an every-project occurrence and each designer regularly works with computational tools as part of their basic toolset.
Industry Research | Jun 13, 2017
Gender, racial, and ethnic diversity increases among emerging professionals
For the first time since NCARB began collecting demographics data, gender equity improved along every career stage.
Architects | Jun 7, 2017
Build your very own version of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum with this new LEGO set
744 LEGO bricks are used to recreate the famous Wright design, including the 1992 addition.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 7, 2017
Multifamily visionary: The life and work of architect David Baker
For 35 years, architect David Baker has been a spirited voice for affordable housing, in San Francisco and beyond.
Architects | Jun 5, 2017
NCARB launches second alternative path to architect certification
Architects without a professional degree in architecture can now earn NCARB certification through an alternate path.
Architects | Jun 2, 2017
NELSON joins forces with Cope Linder and KA
More growth ahead, as NELSON expects to double its workforce and revenue this year.
![Strong brew: Heineken HQ spurs innovation through interaction [slideshow]](/sites/default/files/styles/list_big/public/OPENER%20Screen%20Shot%202017-06-02%20at%2011.33.34%20AM.png?itok=VNxuazkX "Strong brew: Heineken HQ spurs innovation through interaction [slideshow]")
Office Buildings | Jun 2, 2017
Strong brew: Heineken HQ spurs innovation through interaction [slideshow]
The open plan concept features a Heineken bar and multiple social zones.
| Jun 2, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: How maker culture is transforming Sasaki’s design practice
Sasaki’s Pablo Savid-Buteler and Brad Prestbo talk about how the firm’s maker initiatives are changing the way Sasaki goes to market, and how they are helping the firm win new business.
