While many architects will feel lucky to have a job, a regular pay packet and a something other than a stack of dirty dishes to stare at, those age-old work gripes haven’t gone away. Pay inequalities, promotion prospects and missing out on those little extras can grate on even the most Gandhi-like of workers.
American architects have revealed the inner-most secrets of the contracts in the latest Architect Annual Salary Survey. All of the 1,392 respondents who completed the survey in December and January are full-time employees of firms that do primarily non-residential architecture.
The bigger the firm, the thicker the pay packet; that is clear from the results with top tier firms (of 100+ employees) earning a median of up to $142,500 (US $101,700) compared to $134,900 (US $96,200) for second tier firms (of 20-99 employees).
Firms with fewer employees pay distinctly less. If you work in a firm with 2-19 employees, you’re likely to earn a median of $117,000 (US $83,400) and sole proprietors earn (US $68,900).
Pay rose steadily along with years of experience, with those who have 20 years’ experience or more earning $102,400 compared to $43,600 for those with fewer than five years’ experience. To take our salary poll, click here.
Male respondents earn a higher median salary than female respondents. Men, on average, earn a median of $91,700 while women scrape by on $69,900. Does the same gender inequality exist in the Australian architecture profession? Email the editor with your view and look out for our feature later in the week.
