Architecture, in short, is well-executed engineering keeping in mind the principles of sustainability and easy-of-use function of the product being delivered. Contrary to the general notion, a career in Architecture does not confine itself to structures and buildings.

Jobs Related to Architecture

Architecture is a multi-faceted discipline, offering a plethora of choice careers in architecture related profiles like:

Civil Engineering

Construction and Building Inspectors

Construction Managers

Drafters

Industrial Designers

Interior Designers

Landscape Architects

The possibilities are endless to explore. An architect may also scout for opportunities as:

Game and Character Design

Animation & VFX

Product/Prototype Design and Development

UX (User Experience)/ UI (User Interface) Design

Virtual & Augmented Reality (rapidly gaining popularity)

Journalist covering the latest buzz in Architecture

Writer for Architecture books/ Journals

Architect Salary Prospects

As a Fresher: In the beginning, things are slow and there is much to learn apart from classroom learning. Expect an average salary of 25k per month or lower, but this may vary from city to city and state to state.

After 5 Years: After 5 years, one should be looking to add more qualifications like IGBC AP, LEED AP etc. to the CV. The Architect is experienced enough to take up solo projects and should be looking to create his/her own brand name. After all, every Architect would like to awe people. In this stage, the expected salary range is an average of 6 - 8.5L per annum.

After 10 Years: After staying in this field for an average of 10 years, an architect is experienced enough to set up his/her own firm. One may even hire new Architects, which almost becomes a must because 10 years into the industry saturates the design process and young minds have a lot of fresh and un-tampered ideas. There’s no salary as such in a firm; the bigger the project, the better the earnings and revenue margins.

Daily Schedule

Life as an architect is hard. The architect takes up a project and starts his/her base research, site conditions, accessibility of the site, weather conditions and building codes. Then they start the designing phase which is a daunting task. After making calculated decisions they draft a plan and submit it to their superiors/clients.

Usually, the first iteration never gets approved and is sent back to designing phase to make necessary modifications. Once the plan is approved (by the architect, boss and client) after several iterations, the execution/construction phase starts. The original plan goes through a new set of modifications citing on-site issues pointed out by the contractors/craftsmen/engineers. And finally, the output (totally different from the original) is ready to use - which satisfies everyone except the Architect!

All this cannot be done in a defined/specific working hour time schedule, so naturally one must be open to working overtime regularly. Travelling and site visits are inevitable and sometimes an architect has to make the call on what to do and what not to do.

A career in architecture requires creativity, good communication, leadership skills and an analytical bent of mind to stay ahead in a profession that commands respect and a loud applause. So if you have it in you, march ahead towards a lucrative and a rewarding Architecture careers ahead with a B.Arch. degree from a reputed college through JEE Mains, NATA and other design exams.