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Architects & Surveyors

Architects and surveyors are professionals who design, plan, and measure the built and natural environment around us. These specialists create detailed plans for buildings and landscapes, produce maps and spatial data, and establish precise property boundaries using advanced technology and traditional surveying methods. They work for architectural firms, government agencies, engineering companies, and as independent consultants on projects ranging from residential homes to large infrastructure developments.

Median Annual Pay
$81,044
Range: $41,430 - $151,300
Training Time
6 months to 2 years
AI Resilience
🟡AI-Augmented
Education
Post-secondary certificate

🎬Career Video

🤖AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 3/6: high AI task exposure, growing job demand means AI will assist but humans remain essential

🟡AI-Augmented

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
High+0

52% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Growing+2

+6% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 16/25

Total Score3/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

📋Key Responsibilities

  • Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
  • Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
  • Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
  • Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
  • Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
  • Monitor the work of specialists, such as electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, interior designers, or sound specialists to ensure optimal form or function of designs or final structures.
  • Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
  • Plan layouts of structural architectural projects.

💡Inside This Career

Professionals in architecture and surveying begin their days by reviewing project timelines and examining technical drawings, maps, or site documentation that will guide their work. Whether analyzing topographical data in the office, meeting with clients to discuss design requirements, or conducting fieldwork to gather precise measurements, these professionals balance analytical precision with creative problem-solving. A landscape architect might spend the morning refining sustainable drainage plans for a new park, while a cartographer works with satellite imagery to update regional mapping data, and a surveyor calibrates instruments before heading to a construction site.

The collaborative nature of this work means frequent coordination with engineers, contractors, environmental scientists, and government agencies. Architects present design concepts to planning committees, surveyors provide critical boundary information to legal teams, and cartographers work with GIS specialists to ensure data accuracy. Much of the technical work involves specialized software—from CAD programs for building design to advanced mapping applications that process geographic information. Site visits are common across specializations, whether it's an architect inspecting construction progress, a surveyor establishing property lines, or a landscape architect evaluating soil conditions and existing vegetation.

Documentation and quality control consume significant portions of each day, as these professionals must ensure their work meets regulatory standards and client specifications. They prepare detailed reports, update project files, and review calculations or measurements for accuracy. The variety keeps the work engaging—one week might involve designing residential developments, the next could focus on infrastructure projects or environmental conservation planning, each requiring different technical approaches and creative solutions.

📈Career Progression

What does this mean?

This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$41,430
$37,287 - $45,573
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$57,276
$51,548 - $63,004
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$81,044
$72,940 - $89,148
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$116,172
$104,555 - $127,789
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$151,300
$136,170 - $166,430

📚Education & Training

Requirements

  • Entry Education: Post-secondary certificate
  • Experience: Several years
  • On-the-job Training: Several years
  • !License or certification required

Time & Cost

Education Duration
0.5-2 years (typically 1)
Estimated Education Cost
$3,000 - $20,000
Community college:$3,990
Trade school:$10,000
Source: college board (2024)
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💻Technology Skills

BIM software (Revit, ArchiCAD)CAD software (AutoCAD)3D modeling (SketchUp, Rhino)Adobe Creative SuiteRendering software (V-Ray, Lumion)Microsoft OfficeProject management toolsBIM software (Revit)Rendering software (Lumion, SketchUp)GIS software3D modeling toolsGIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS)Remote sensing softwarePhotogrammetry softwareCAD software (AutoCAD, Civil 3D)

Key Abilities

Visualization
Oral Comprehension
Written Comprehension
Oral Expression
Written Expression
Fluency of Ideas
Originality
Problem Sensitivity
Deductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning

🏷️Also Known As

Architects & SurveyorsArchitectBuilding ArchitectBuilding ConsultantBuilding Information Modeling Specialist (BIM Specialist)Commercial Green Building ArchitectCommercial Green Building DesignerCommercial Green Retrofit ArchitectDesign ArchitectFacilities Planner+20 more

📑Specializations

This career includes 5 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.

🔗Related Careers

Other careers in engineering

🔗Data Sources

Last updated: 2026-01-09

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