Going into Architecture as a Career

Architecture is a vast field that deals with plans and designs of residential and commercial building structures. Some of the world's famous architectures include Roman, Victorian, Indian and more. Over the years, this field too has seen a sea change in the architectural styles. There is a great demand for qualified architects. If you are passionate about designing unique building structures, the career may prove to be very rewarding for you.

It's a Challenging Profession

This an interesting field where you need to face constant deadlines, challenges and of course, competition. While designing any structure, an architect needs to keep in mind various factors like preferences of the client, functional aspects, design aspects, safety aspects and other technicalities. An architect is needed to design just about every building structure whether it is a school, stadium, housing complex or airport terminal.



Next Comes College

Only drawing skills and creative imagination are not enough to succeed in an architecture career. Join a bachelor degree course in a reputable college to study this discipline once you have decided that an architect's profession is right for you.

A college degree is extremely important whether you want to run your own firm or become a project manager in a construction company. A science background with mechanical drawing in high school will be an advantage. There are various specializations in this field too like building engineering and management, industrial design, landscape architecture, naval architecture and more. The classes may include 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) and free hand drawing. You should also have good communication skills, computer skills and analytical abilities.

Getting Started In the Field of Architecture

There are many architecture firms ready to hire fresh architects with no experience as such. You will be doing routine tasks such as organizing files and making copies, but you will get a very close look at an architect's profession from the inside. You must work in a focused way as this is the time to learn and enhance your knowledge.

Find Your Job in College

Job options for architects are available in both government and private firms. The ideal scenario is that you find a job during your college days. It will be easier for you to attain your first full time position this way. In your first job, you may either be working for a builder, designer or an architect doing various tasks. Most architects have to work for several years before they get a license to work on their own.

What about Financial Rewards

The salary of an architect depends on several factors. Income may vary depending on experience, education, type of firm and location. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the US Government:

1. The average salary for architects in 2006 was approximately $64,150.
2. Top 10% of architects earned over $104,970.
3. The bottom 10% earned less than $39,420.
4. Those still working as an intern earned substantially less.

According to the Design Intelligence Compensation Survey 2009, the income opportunities for architects remain steady despite economic turbulence. The average salary for a new Bachelor of Architecture graduate has increased to $41,012 in 2009.