Architect

What are the working conditions like?

Architects spend most of their time working in offices and meeting with clients, consultants and co-workers.
At times, they are required to visit building sites. The pressure of deadlines and unexpected delays can be
stressful.
Architects may work anywhere in the world. International work is common for some Canadian firms.


What are the base and potential earnings?


Wages
*

Low
(5
th
percentile)
High
(95
th
percentile)
Average Median
Startin
g
$20.79 $43.88 $30.03 $27.88
Overall $28.85 $60.79 $38.79 $33.71
Top $31.89 $87.91 $50.01 $46.88



What kind of education or training is needed?

The minimum educational requirement is a four year bachelor degree and a three year masters in
architecture.Registration requires the equivalent of: completion of an approved bachelor's or master's
degree program in architecture, completion of an approved apprenticeship or study program, an internship
of at least three years of work experience under the supervision of an architect, successful completion of
registration examinations, and a final interview with the provincial association. For official, detailed
information about registration requirements, visit the AAA website or contact the AAA.

What is the typical career path?
Below average is the expected occupational growth for 2013-2017. Job openings are a result of employment
turnover and newly created positions.
Architects may be self-employed or employed by:
architectural firms
government agencies
commercial or industrial organizations
developers, real estate companies or contractors.
Some architects work on very large projects; others work directly with users on smaller projects. Architects
who are self-employed must be good business managers.
Registered architects may become project architects or specifications writers. Experienced architects may
become project designers or, if skilled in all stages of architectural design and construction, associates or
partners in larger firms. Some architects teach in post-secondary institutions and some do research or
pursue careers as writers or critics.
In Alberta, 89 per cent of people employed as architects work in the Professional, Scientific and Technical
Services industry.
The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
trends and events affecting the provincial economy and overall employment (especially in the
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry)
location in Alberta
employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never
existed before)
size of the occupation.
Over 3,100 Albertans are employed in the Architects occupational group which is expected to have an annual
below average growth of 1.9 per cent from 2013 to 2017 in Alberta. It is forecasted that about 59 new
positions will be created each year in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next
few years.
What are some related jobs?

Engineering, Architecture, and Design