Say you're just starting out in this profession, getting paid measly, perhaps contemplating going back for more school or working in architecture to pay off past tuition debts, and you find a job in another field that pays you $100k+/year. Would you quit architecture and take up this other profession? You love architecture with all its challenges but are still trying to get your foot in. The other profession doesn't challenge you and is fairly limited in scope, but it pays you well with the possibility to get paid more.
Wilma Buttfit
Jun 23, 16 8:09 pm
Yes, probably, but I would then maintain architecture as a moonlighting gig.
gwharton
Jun 23, 16 8:38 pm
That would be a pay cut, so no.
Everyday Intern
Jun 23, 16 8:44 pm
gwharton, did you read the OP or just the title?
If there was the possibility for $100k right out of school in a profession ... I'd definitely consider it. It would still depend on a lot of other factors, but yes, it consider it. I'm not set on architecture as my only career path.
Dangermouse
Jun 23, 16 9:24 pm
yeah, probably.
good details
Jun 23, 16 11:34 pm
I’d do it while doing some small-scale design/build stuff on the side. I’d live within my current means which would entail saving $50k+ a year. After having $100k-$150k stashed in investments I’d re-evaluate how I feel about the current job vs switching back to architecture.
I'm with Gwharton, although now that I am paying qualified people I make less (so far), haha
what a profession!?!?!?
MinimalCrazy
Jun 24, 16 12:01 pm
No way. Chances are, i will not excited to wake up and go to work. Liking your job is more important to me than the $. Time flies at a job you like, while it feels like eternity at one you hate
won and done williams
Jun 24, 16 12:43 pm
I used to make $20,000/year and was happy.
I went to architecture school and got into $80,000 of debt.
I graduated and became an intern architect, making $35,000/year, started paying off that debt, and felt very poor.
Worked my way up the ladder for 8 years, making $65,000/year, put away a little money into a 401k and savings account, started a family, and still felt strapped.
Started my own practice, making $200,000/year, put a lot of money into retirement accounts and savings, putting my kids through private school, and realized more money doesn't necessarily make you happier.
Now trying to eliminate all my expenses and get back to where I started, but this time maybe a bit wiser.
Do what you like doing, and not for the money.
accesskb
Jun 25, 16 12:56 am
I should've mentioned above that the hourly rate translates to anywhere from $350/hr to upwards of $6500+/hr. Only problem is there isn't a consistent amount of work while starting out so no way one could be working 8 hour days, 5 days a week and get paid that rate.
Wood Guy
Jun 25, 16 10:32 am
So you're looking at becoming a high end escort? Good work if you can get it, I suppose.
Wood Guy
Jun 25, 16 10:40 am
Seriously, though, I know several people who landed high-paying gigs shortly after college, worked hard and saved as much as they could, and retired before the age of 40. By retired, I mean they no longer have regular jobs, they travel, invest in real estate, run Alpaca farms, etc.. If you have the discipline to do that, go for it.
You know what's better than being an architect? Being a developer, where you hire architects and have control over the design. All of the fun, none of the tedium. (I speak from an aspirational standpoint....)
null pointer
Jun 25, 16 10:47 am
Do it, but only if you're licensed.
Leaving architecture without a license means you'll never make it back, no matter how badly you want it.
Go, earn 100k, and come back when you want to start your own practice. It's what I did, and I don't regret it in the least.
Non Sequitur
Jun 25, 16 11:18 am
I'd like to run an alpaca farm.
x-jla
Jun 25, 16 12:17 pm
I started Investing in RE about 10 years ago when I was making 30k a year and going to school. I bought a house, lived there for 2 years, then took a 2 year lease in an apt and rented out my house...by waiting 2 years I was able to count it as an investment property and buy another home...while living there and doing some renovations...etc...on my third one so far...my mortgages are being paid down by my tenants, and in another 10 years I will have almost 500k in equity between the three properties. That will pay for my kids college. Im not done though. I plan on continuing until I have 10 or more properties. If I do, by retirement age (even though I'll never retire) I will have a few million in equity to cash out, re-invest, travel...it's a really simple way to invest in RE without a ton of cash in hand. Slow and steady...
zonker
Jun 26, 16 5:48 pm
I did the opposite 9 years ago - went from making what would be $100,000 in today's dollars as a Maya 3D artist for a video game company to 1/2 that much at SOM doing basically the same thing only with Revit as a level C architectural assistant.
midlander
Jun 26, 16 10:12 pm
^would you do it again?
accesskb - it would depend on very many things not explained. My answer would have at one been probably, now probably not. not many legal jobs pay that well which don't rely on some skill worth developing.
LITS4FormZ
Jun 27, 16 12:24 am
There a lots of ways to make 100k within the first couple of years out of school in related fields, construction mgmt being the "easiest" to break into. You can be an entry level APM getting 55k a year salary with another 36k(non-taxed) per diem and a monthly travel allowance(non-taxed). That's what I did.
I had never been on a job site until the age of 24 after I received my MArch. Started out working on projects in lovely places like Arkansas, Missouri and Texas that no one wanted to volunteer for. After that I did a stint in one of our offices in Dallas doing BIM but then they figured out that wasn't an effective use of time. Now I get to live in Singapore and manage projects in this part of the world.
Is it easy? No. You will put in more hours than anyone working in an office doing traditional architecture. Your work environment will also be much more stressful. If you can't keep your cool, you won't last. If you can't resolve conflicts quickly or work with people from very different backgrounds, you won't last. If you can't stand up for yourself and call bullshit when you see it, you won't last.
Will your professors and other pretentious classmates look down on what you're doing? Probably. But that's because they're jealous of your instagram.
Is it architecture? Absolutely. You are the one making the decisions in the end. That's why they have record drawings, to catch up on all the f*ck ups from the people who are designing in silos and don't understand how things are actually built.
Can you go back to the office and jump back into architecture in the traditional sense? Absolutely. You will be able to apply your knowledge and the leadership skills to executing projects and managing clients.
good details
Jun 27, 16 2:00 am
^^^^Goals.
archiwutm8
Jun 27, 16 3:37 am
Xenakis, That's nuts, I would of stayed as a Maya artist personally. I left school earning roughly 75k USD within a year doing BIM stuff. However if it was Archi vs any other earning 100k off the bat it'd be depending on my responsibilities and work/life balance.
lisas1
Jun 27, 16 5:43 am
I would.
Why? This job in another field paid better and got potential for more income in the future. Based on my experience, it is not easy to get an architecture job with interesting projects. I feel that in this industry, the expectation is high and not necessarily translates to fair remuneration. For me, job satisfaction can come from do what you do well and feel that you contribute something to community. After almost 8 years, I don't feel architecture has given me job satisfaction. I like the challenges and solve the site issues, but that's not enough.
Say you're just starting out in this profession, getting paid measly, perhaps contemplating going back for more school or working in architecture to pay off past tuition debts, and you find a job in another field that pays you $100k+/year. Would you quit architecture and take up this other profession? You love architecture with all its challenges but are still trying to get your foot in. The other profession doesn't challenge you and is fairly limited in scope, but it pays you well with the possibility to get paid more.
Yes, probably, but I would then maintain architecture as a moonlighting gig.
That would be a pay cut, so no.
gwharton, did you read the OP or just the title?
If there was the possibility for $100k right out of school in a profession ... I'd definitely consider it. It would still depend on a lot of other factors, but yes, it consider it. I'm not set on architecture as my only career path.
yeah, probably.
I’d do it while doing some small-scale design/build stuff on the side. I’d live within my current means which would entail saving $50k+ a year. After having $100k-$150k stashed in investments I’d re-evaluate how I feel about the current job vs switching back to architecture.
My main gripe with architecture is not being able to get a solid investment foundation made in my 20s. If I could have a $100k+ tucked away for retirement before I’m 30 I could cut back on the typical amount of retirement contributions for the rest of my working career and come out alright. That'd give me more expendable income while raising a family during my working career and there'd be less stress about hitting benchmarks for retirement.
fuck the banks, god bless america!
I don't like money, so no.
I'm with Gwharton, although now that I am paying qualified people I make less (so far), haha
what a profession!?!?!?
No way. Chances are, i will not excited to wake up and go to work. Liking your job is more important to me than the $. Time flies at a job you like, while it feels like eternity at one you hate
I used to make $20,000/year and was happy.
I went to architecture school and got into $80,000 of debt.
I graduated and became an intern architect, making $35,000/year, started paying off that debt, and felt very poor.
Worked my way up the ladder for 8 years, making $65,000/year, put away a little money into a 401k and savings account, started a family, and still felt strapped.
Started my own practice, making $200,000/year, put a lot of money into retirement accounts and savings, putting my kids through private school, and realized more money doesn't necessarily make you happier.
Now trying to eliminate all my expenses and get back to where I started, but this time maybe a bit wiser.
Do what you like doing, and not for the money.
I should've mentioned above that the hourly rate translates to anywhere from $350/hr to upwards of $6500+/hr. Only problem is there isn't a consistent amount of work while starting out so no way one could be working 8 hour days, 5 days a week and get paid that rate.
So you're looking at becoming a high end escort? Good work if you can get it, I suppose.
Seriously, though, I know several people who landed high-paying gigs shortly after college, worked hard and saved as much as they could, and retired before the age of 40. By retired, I mean they no longer have regular jobs, they travel, invest in real estate, run Alpaca farms, etc.. If you have the discipline to do that, go for it.
You know what's better than being an architect? Being a developer, where you hire architects and have control over the design. All of the fun, none of the tedium. (I speak from an aspirational standpoint....)
Do it, but only if you're licensed.
Leaving architecture without a license means you'll never make it back, no matter how badly you want it.
Go, earn 100k, and come back when you want to start your own practice. It's what I did, and I don't regret it in the least.
I'd like to run an alpaca farm.
I started Investing in RE about 10 years ago when I was making 30k a year and going to school. I bought a house, lived there for 2 years, then took a 2 year lease in an apt and rented out my house...by waiting 2 years I was able to count it as an investment property and buy another home...while living there and doing some renovations...etc...on my third one so far...my mortgages are being paid down by my tenants, and in another 10 years I will have almost 500k in equity between the three properties. That will pay for my kids college. Im not done though. I plan on continuing until I have 10 or more properties. If I do, by retirement age (even though I'll never retire) I will have a few million in equity to cash out, re-invest, travel...it's a really simple way to invest in RE without a ton of cash in hand. Slow and steady...
I did the opposite 9 years ago - went from making what would be $100,000 in today's dollars as a Maya 3D artist for a video game company to 1/2 that much at SOM doing basically the same thing only with Revit as a level C architectural assistant.
^would you do it again?
accesskb - it would depend on very many things not explained. My answer would have at one been probably, now probably not. not many legal jobs pay that well which don't rely on some skill worth developing.
There a lots of ways to make 100k within the first couple of years out of school in related fields, construction mgmt being the "easiest" to break into. You can be an entry level APM getting 55k a year salary with another 36k(non-taxed) per diem and a monthly travel allowance(non-taxed). That's what I did.
I had never been on a job site until the age of 24 after I received my MArch. Started out working on projects in lovely places like Arkansas, Missouri and Texas that no one wanted to volunteer for. After that I did a stint in one of our offices in Dallas doing BIM but then they figured out that wasn't an effective use of time. Now I get to live in Singapore and manage projects in this part of the world.
Is it easy? No. You will put in more hours than anyone working in an office doing traditional architecture. Your work environment will also be much more stressful. If you can't keep your cool, you won't last. If you can't resolve conflicts quickly or work with people from very different backgrounds, you won't last. If you can't stand up for yourself and call bullshit when you see it, you won't last.
Will your professors and other pretentious classmates look down on what you're doing? Probably. But that's because they're jealous of your instagram.
Is it architecture? Absolutely. You are the one making the decisions in the end. That's why they have record drawings, to catch up on all the f*ck ups from the people who are designing in silos and don't understand how things are actually built.
Can you go back to the office and jump back into architecture in the traditional sense? Absolutely. You will be able to apply your knowledge and the leadership skills to executing projects and managing clients.
^^^^Goals.
Xenakis, That's nuts, I would of stayed as a Maya artist personally. I left school earning roughly 75k USD within a year doing BIM stuff. However if it was Archi vs any other earning 100k off the bat it'd be depending on my responsibilities and work/life balance.
I would.
Why? This job in another field paid better and got potential for more income in the future. Based on my experience, it is not easy to get an architecture job with interesting projects. I feel that in this industry, the expectation is high and not necessarily translates to fair remuneration. For me, job satisfaction can come from do what you do well and feel that you contribute something to community. After almost 8 years, I don't feel architecture has given me job satisfaction. I like the challenges and solve the site issues, but that's not enough.