An architect job can take a lot out of us when we aren’t earning what we want. 

Most architects would agree, the hours are long and sometimes the compensation doesn’t meet par. That doesn’t mean that we can’t find ways to get more from our architect career. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the architect salary for 2019 averaged around $79,380 per year and pays approximately $38.16 per hour. While the highest-paid architect might make much more per year than the average, most architects may feel pressured to reach this standard within their current job. 

There are several reasons we may miss the mark. Before we go further into it, let’s take a look at why an architect job can become so demanding.  

Why Do Architect Jobs Require So Much Time? 

Since much of their time is spent working long hours on a high-priority project for their employer, architects' schedules become arduous and taxing.  

Architects can quickly become absorbed into their work and lose track of how many hours they’re putting in. If we have a time-sensitive project, our employer often won’t compensate us for off-the-clock hours we put in. On top of it all, we’re still managing other duties. 

An architect job isn’t just a job, it’s a big responsibility to commit to our employer's demands. The trick to staying on top of it all comes with experience and managing our time on the job.  

3 Ways an Architect Can Improve Overtime Schedules

Before we can focus on our time management, we need to consider what responsibilities we’re juggling at once and reorganize everything accordingly. Here are some steps we can take to increase our architect salary per hour.  

1. Make To-Do Lists Each Day

If we know we have a tight ship for the day, we’re going to get overwhelmed and stressed trying to remember everything. A great way to cope with days like this is to write a list of tasks that need to be done and set out to complete each one in order. 

Don’t skip steps on the list unless it’s necessary. Just focus on the single task at hand and the work will get done without spending too much time fixing errors. 

2. Tackle Less Essential Tasks Later

When an architect job or task doesn’t require our immediate attention, we can usually put it off for another day. However, if we put it off for too long, it will eventually mess with the future tasks our employer gives us. 

That's why we should focus mainly on the large tasks when we're on the clock and finish up the simple tasks once we have free time. Our employer will be more than glad to accommodate a higher salary for us if we finish the high-priority tasks on time.  

3. Allow Time to Recharge 

Some days we need to recharge so we can continue to present our best work to our employer. It’s normal to become overwhelmed in the middle of a large project or when we need to fix our mistakes. 

Identifying our limits and knowing when to breathe can make a massive difference in the outcome of a project. Don't be afraid to ask for time off if you notice that your job performance is lacking. 

Let Us Help You Achieve a Higher Architect Pay Scale 

Managing an architect job isn’t simple. We know what it’s like to be under pressure to complete our best work and perfect the finer details. Allow our dedicated staffing team to assist you with time management issues so you can enjoy your career to the fullest.