Becoming a successful architect is not a day’s job, you’ve got to chase your dream continuously. Sometimes, chasing your dream might involve relocating to a new state, city, or town. You shouldn’t just choose any state or city out there, but the best states in the United States for architects.
Meanwhile, the US is already one of the best countries for Architects worldwide. Aside from strict studies, there are some underlying factors you must consider when building an architectural career, which will be discussed later in the article.
Even though the pay is great, there are other factors you must consider before relocating to one of the best states in the US as an architect. These factors include the standards of living, employment opportunities, and good architectural schools in case you want to further your studies. This article will discuss five of the best states in the United States for architects to relocate to and the benefits of working as an architect.
Top Five States in the United States for Architects to Live in
San Francisco, California
California is one of the best states in the United States for architects. It also has the highest number of employment opportunities compared to other states, which is good news for architecture graduates in and outside the US.
The best cities for architects in California include San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Santa Rosa. San Francisco is the highest-paying city for architects in the country, with an average salary of $97,300 annually.
However, the top-tier architects are paid even more, with the highest salary at $165,500 annually. The lowest pay was reported to be $42,750 per year. With over 450 architectural firms, there are plenty of job opportunities in the Bay Area of San Francisco.
New York City, NY
New York comes in as the third-highest-paying city after Santa Rosa. As such, an architect in New York can earn an average salary of $94,000 per year. However, if you’re an experienced architect, your salary may significantly increase to $155,000 annually.
While the lowest salary may be around $40,000, intermediate or entry-level architects can also earn an average salary of between $69,000 and $99,500. New York is home to a lot of architectural designs like the Empire State Building and Central Park. As an architecture student, how do you secure a job after graduating? Worry less!
New York City is also one of the best cities where architecture graduates flourish, based on a very high number of architectural firms. These firms include Gensler, with over 200 local and over 1,000 international architects; Perkins Eastman, with over 250 local and over 450 international architects; and HOK, with 220 local and over 1,000 international architects.
Due to the wide range of construction industry in New York, you will need to have a specialty. As such, securing a job at one of these top firms requires a solid grasp of the legal and technical language various parties use to communicate with each other.
Seattle, Washington
Washington is one of the best states in the United States for architects. Some of the top cities for architects in Washington include Seattle, Vancouver, and Spokane. Let’s talk about the capital city of Washington, Seattle.
It’s also the largest city in the US Pacific Northwest and was ranked as the fourth highest-paying city for architects. Architects in Seattle may earn an average salary of $92,000 per year. However, as an experienced architect, you can earn up to $154,000 per year.
The lowest salary possibly recorded was around $39,627. Entry-level architects can earn between $69,000 and $99,000.
Boston, Massachusetts
The State of Massachusetts, also known as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is one of the top three states for architecture in the US. Boston, its capital city, is the fifth highest-paying city.
The average salary for an architect is $90,000 per year. While top-level architects can earn as high as $153,000 per year, the lowest can be around $39,500. In addition, entry-level architects may earn between $69,000 and $99,000 annually.
Dallas, TX
Although Dallas doesn’t offer a significant salary for architects compared to some of the cities above, it’s also a great place for architects. This city is one of the few in the US that has a low cost of living below the national average.
Texas is one remarkable state that doesn’t tax its people’s income. As an experienced architect, you can earn as much as $142,000 per year, while the lowest pay can be around $37,000. Additionally, it’s a rapidly growing city and, therefore, one of the best cities in the US for architects.
Benefits of Working as an Architect
Salary
As an architect and with your training and experience, you can make a lucrative salary compared to other professionals in the general workforce. On average, an architect may earn an average salary of $96,500 per year.
However, your salary as an architect will depend on the geographic area, employer, and professional experience. Normally, when you become a more experienced architect in the field and complete some complex projects, you’ll earn more.
Architects who complete postgraduate education and additional certifications will also have the potential to earn more money.
Use of Creativity
A career as an architect can be a great choice for people who enjoy thinking outside the box to develop new ideas. As architects continue to gain experience in the field, they focus more on design work, which allows them to use their creativity to build more innovative architectural plans.
Furthermore, these professionals usually design many proposals for clients and adjust the designs to meet the project’s requirements.
As an architect, you’ll get the opportunity to experiment with design concepts and consider other methods of achieving the project goals. They also use their creativity to create functional and aesthetic architectural plans.
Impactful Work
Architects design spaces and structures that can directly and indirectly have an impact on people and communities. For instance, an architect may work with city officials to develop a new community center, or they may help a family develop plans for their home.
Their major concern is that the buildings and spaces function correctly and keep people safe by designing structurally sound architectural plans. Often, architects work on projects that have been abandoned in communities for decades, thereby building a legacy through their work.
Seeing your impact as an architect can help you feel passionate about this great profession.
Tips to Become an Architect
Develop Skills
You must acquire skills that can help you become a successful architect. To work in this field, you must have outstanding creativity and visualization skills to help you create new ideas. And also imagine how the different parts of a specific space can come together to form a cohesive look.
Furthermore, these professionals usually use math and engineering concepts to specify measurements in their plans and ensure that a project meets structural requirements.
You can also develop these skills by taking various math and design classes and working on projects like art to express your creativity.
Build a Portfolio
Building a professional portfolio can help architects showcase their work to potential clients. It would help if you started building your portfolio early to show your skills and qualifications in architecture.
However, if you’re working toward obtaining a bachelor’s degree, you can include some school projects or designs in your portfolio. When you apply for internships to gain experience, your portfolio can help you distinguish yourself from other candidates by showing employers your commitment to the field.
As you advance in your career, continue to update your portfolio so you’re highlighting your best work.