Hi, I have been working in NYC with an 8 years of experience specializing in multi-family residential buildings. It has been okay but now I am in my early 30s and the salary of an architect is just not sufficient to start a family in a way that doesn't feel like a struggle. This has taken a toll to my life as my wife is saying she feels insecure with what I am making. She is not wrong, i feels the same way as I see in the past couple years many talented people with over 20 and 30 years of experience got laid off. How do people here get started? How do you find clients? How to get the right consultants with reasonable pricing that won't scare away the clients? Which field of practice would be an easier start? I need to do something or I felt like my life will fall into crumbles really soon... I am registered and I just need to find a way to make money with it.
I regret that over the years I haven't build much connections beyond my corporate job and had a hard time getting access to clients. The clients I know from work are mostly developers that would only work with established firms. I have tried to do a 2-family house once for a connection from my wife. I did give them a proposal but didn't charge him upfront and hoping it would trigger something more but the client ran away with my drawings with bs excuses and never heard a word since then. After that I got quite frustrated and hasn't done much.
So here is my question. Even for something small like room renovations, how to go out and advertise yourself and start getting clients? Also, any tips to get the right consultants with reasonable price that won't scare away the clients? Which field of practice did all of you start for your side job?
My advice: Leave NYC if you can. My sister is also an architect. She lived and worked in NYC for six years. My sister left NYC and moved to the Midwest where she works less house, makes more money (lower cost of living), and has higher job security.
NYC is certainly a stressful place to live, especially when you are surrounded by people who earn more when they are also working shorter hours. I don't see myself moving anytime soon due to other reasons but I do need to pickup some extra cash to sustain a proper living.
Nov 1, 24 2:55 pm ·
·
OddArchitect
If that is the case then you'll have to work more hours and pick up side gigs. Others here have given good advice how to do this. Just keep in mind that working 80 hour weeks isn't sustainable.
I personally would NEVER work in NYC. The cost of living is too high and the pay too low. I have 20 years experience and make in the low six figures. That may not seem like a lot however it would equal around $325k in NYC.
If you have to stay in NYC, you may want to consider moving into an better-paying architecture adjacent job like owners' rep, facilities work, or construction project manager.
Also, make sure your current job is paying you what you are worth. Do some interviews and see if somebody out there is willing to pay you more. Often, the fastest and biggest salary growth for an architect comes from moving jobs. Some people will give you side eye about "job-hopping" or being "disloyal", buts that's all bullshit.
Getting and doing side work will probably take you a while to both get established and make enough money to improve your finances in a meaningful way.
Actually I recently moved to a new job working for a design-build developer. There is an increase(from ~95k to 110k) in pay but really not much. I tried some interviews but my impression that a lot of the traditional architect firms only want to pay ~ 100k for 8+ years of experience. From what I heard and what I see, so long as I work for a architecture firm I will probably get to maybe 160k at some point but that's simply not enough if you want to have your own place, have a kid etc...My impression from this forum is that a lot of people have been doing some side work or have started their own practice. I am wondering how they first started.
Nov 1, 24 5:49 pm ·
·
reallynotmyname
Oftentimes, the first client is someone you meet while working for your current employer. It could be one of the contractors or a realtor who needs a design project that is either too small for your employer or or not a building type that your employer does. You would do well to have your business registrations, equipment, and insurance lined up and ready before pursuing your side projects.
are you part of any networking groups - even like a Facebook group? I would post content on unit layout or municipal code items, etc… that pertain to successfully developing a project. Show your expertise and offer as much value for free as you can. You can even ask if anyone wants free architectural services in exchange for equity in a project. If not, you can specialize in data facilities and get hired by Amazon/big tech as their architect/consultant. Or you can reroll your career. The only real money you can make without going into debt is tech/finance/sales. I was talking to a family friend who’s a VP at her company and she said she knows that good Power BI people making $280k here in the PNW. Check out levels.fyi and see what jobs are out there in tech you’ve never heard of - and how much they get paid. There are a lot of resources online at minimal cost to retrain yourself. There currently is a surplus of coders trying to get into entry levels jobs so I’d stay clear of the L2code meme. But if you find yourself being a good problem solver you may just excel at being a software engineer. I have a high school friend working at meta and according to the pay scale from the above website, he’s making +$700k (including RSUs).
Nov 3, 24 11:53 am ·
·
yonl
That sounds crazy... Yes, there was one point early in my career when I was thinking about getting into UIUX but eventually gave up since I thought it was too "basic" compared to architecture. Thoughts of changing career has come and gone over the years but I never really wanted to fully give up architecture because of my passion for the field, despite its lower return and heavy responsibilities. I will look at what you have suggested, maybe there could be something I can do part time after my day job.
The biggest thing that has kept me slammed for the ten years I've been on my own designing homes and renovations has probably been continually educating potential clients, builders and my colleagues on good design, building science, sustainability, etc..
The first time I met my now-frequent collaborator on educational efforts, who is also my main competitor, was at a conference where she was presenting and said, "those who educate the market own the market." I grew up believing that those who can't do, teach, and that is certainly true for some, but her comment flipped a switch for me.
I work alone in a tiny office in my home in rural Maine, yet thanks largely to my education efforts, with essentially zero advertising and a lame website, I am one of the better-known architects or designers in my state and I can refer potential clients to builders and architects I know all over the US, and some in Canada. It does require continual learning and polishing presentation skills, but I also have a fairly severe stutter yet I speak at conferences etc., so if I can do it, I'm sure that you can as well, on whatever topic interests you.
I formed my LLC and went solo full-time in January, 2016, but I had been working part-time on the side for a few years before that. I started my design career in 2002 after working for six years as a full-time carpentry contractor, and returned to carpentry a few times since 2002 in between other things.
Wood Guy It is quite inspiring to hear about how you get to where you are today. When you first started on your own, I suppose you used the connections you built up over the years when you were a carpentry contractor?
You would have thought but no, I did carpentry in another state for the most part. Most of my early projects came through builders I had met through networking and from them reading the articles I had written.
dude is not satisfied with $110K salary. I know too many people working in NYC making waaaaaaaaaay under that. Man, I would be ecstatic to make $110K with 8 yrs experience.
Nov 11, 24 1:54 pm ·
·
OddArchitect
The average starting pay for a fresh grad in NYC is $70k. I'd rethink your views on this.
Nov 11, 24 3:22 pm ·
·
yonl
It's really not much and like what OddArchitect had pointed out, the starting salary for new grad has increased over the years and honestly the money is just not enough or justified in my point of view if you look at the kind of stress and responsibilities that a mid level architect need to take working on a mid-large project under a corporate environment.
yoni - it sounds like a firm culture thing. I know when my sister worked in NYC there was this idea that architects needed to 'suffer' for their art. That's BS. No matter the firm or project type you shouldn't be working more than 40-45 hours a week for non managing partners.
I have a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from UNM - my undergraduate work was in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Business Administration, and Community & Regional Planning (grad level) - MPA courses were Contemporary Public Administration; Public Financial Administration; Public Financial Management; Public Budgeting; Public Personnel Administration; Program Evaluation; Administrative Law; and Employee Relations in the Public Sector - I have a retired licensed architect friend who was the NM State Architect and the School Architect for the Albuquerque Public Schools system - high pay, healthcare, vacations, travel, and full retirement after 20 years - most states offer similar benefits - in the meantime, or during you public sector career, become part of an investment group the builds spec. homes for sale where you set the price and you provide the CD's - I did this in Scottsdale where the team was the general contractor, building designer, and 5 las Vegas doctors - this is passive income that can go into your IRA retirement account - retire at 55 ...
Great that you point out this path that falls outside of what a lot of people think about as a typical architecture career. My undergrad and grad school teachers conditioned all of us students to think that being a starchitect is the only thing worth doing in the industry. It's important to unlearn that.
Nov 13, 24 1:24 pm ·
·
OddArchitect
I've done a traditional architectural career for the past 22 years. Three years ago I became a junior partner in the firm I'm with.
There is a 75% chance that I'll be able to retire at 55. If I wasn't a type 1 diabetic I could easily retire at 55, live to 88 and die with about $12 million still in the bank.
I'm not from money, I haven't inherited anything, and I haven't won the lottery.
I did side gigs and then started my own firm. I recommend you stay close to the market you know. Going from corporate work to room renovations or two family homes is a big leap and if you are taking on clients you can get burned. In the corporate market, 8 years experience may not be enough to develop contacts and clients. You should consider getting some experience in a small firm, if you really want to do small projects, or waiting a few years in your current firm to get exposure to clients and consultants (a great source of side gigs). Good luck!
Dec 5, 24 11:34 pm ·
·
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How to get started to do some side gig - design or non design related
Hi, I have been working in NYC with an 8 years of experience specializing in multi-family residential buildings. It has been okay but now I am in my early 30s and the salary of an architect is just not sufficient to start a family in a way that doesn't feel like a struggle. This has taken a toll to my life as my wife is saying she feels insecure with what I am making. She is not wrong, i feels the same way as I see in the past couple years many talented people with over 20 and 30 years of experience got laid off. How do people here get started? How do you find clients? How to get the right consultants with reasonable pricing that won't scare away the clients? Which field of practice would be an easier start? I need to do something or I felt like my life will fall into crumbles really soon... I am registered and I just need to find a way to make money with it.
I regret that over the years I haven't build much connections beyond my corporate job and had a hard time getting access to clients. The clients I know from work are mostly developers that would only work with established firms. I have tried to do a 2-family house once for a connection from my wife. I did give them a proposal but didn't charge him upfront and hoping it would trigger something more but the client ran away with my drawings with bs excuses and never heard a word since then. After that I got quite frustrated and hasn't done much.
So here is my question. Even for something small like room renovations, how to go out and advertise yourself and start getting clients? Also, any tips to get the right consultants with reasonable price that won't scare away the clients? Which field of practice did all of you start for your side job?
Any feedbacks would be greatly appreciated.
My advice: Leave NYC if you can. My sister is also an architect. She lived and worked in NYC for six years. My sister left NYC and moved to the Midwest where she works less house, makes more money (lower cost of living), and has higher job security.
NYC is certainly a stressful place to live, especially when you are surrounded by people who earn more when they are also working shorter hours. I don't see myself moving anytime soon due to other reasons but I do need to pickup some extra cash to sustain a proper living.
If that is the case then you'll have to work more hours and pick up side gigs. Others here have given good advice how to do this. Just keep in mind that working 80 hour weeks isn't sustainable.
I personally would NEVER work in NYC. The cost of living is too high and the pay too low. I have 20 years experience and make in the low six figures. That may not seem like a lot however it would equal around $325k in NYC.
If you have to stay in NYC, you may want to consider moving into an better-paying architecture adjacent job like owners' rep, facilities work, or construction project manager.
Also, make sure your current job is paying you what you are worth. Do some interviews and see if somebody out there is willing to pay you more. Often, the fastest and biggest salary growth for an architect comes from moving jobs. Some people will give you side eye about "job-hopping" or being "disloyal", buts that's all bullshit.
Getting and doing side work will probably take you a while to both get established and make enough money to improve your finances in a meaningful way.
Actually I recently moved to a new job working for a design-build developer. There is an increase(from ~95k to 110k) in pay but really not much. I tried some interviews but my impression that a lot of the traditional architect firms only want to pay ~ 100k for 8+ years of experience. From what I heard and what I see, so long as I work for a architecture firm I will probably get to maybe 160k at some point but that's simply not enough if you want to have your own place, have a kid etc...My impression from this forum is that a lot of people have been doing some side work or have started their own practice. I am wondering how they first started.
Oftentimes, the first client is someone you meet while working for your current employer. It could be one of the contractors or a realtor who needs a design project that is either too small for your employer or or not a building type that your employer does. You would do well to have your business registrations, equipment, and insurance lined up and ready before pursuing your side projects.
Are you morally opposed to selling pictures of your feet?
No, if those make money I would even show a bit of my ankle.
are you part of any networking groups - even like a Facebook group? I would post content on unit layout or municipal code items, etc… that pertain to successfully developing a project. Show your expertise and offer as much value for free as you can. You can even ask if anyone wants free architectural services in exchange for equity in a project. If not, you can specialize in data facilities and get hired by Amazon/big tech as their architect/consultant. Or you can reroll your career. The only real money you can make without going into debt is tech/finance/sales. I was talking to a family friend who’s a VP at her company and she said she knows that good Power BI people making $280k here in the PNW. Check out levels.fyi and see what jobs are out there in tech you’ve never heard of - and how much they get paid. There are a lot of resources online at minimal cost to retrain yourself. There currently is a surplus of coders trying to get into entry levels jobs so I’d stay clear of the L2code meme. But if you find yourself being a good problem solver you may just excel at being a software engineer. I have a high school friend working at meta and according to the pay scale from the above website, he’s making +$700k (including RSUs).
That sounds crazy... Yes, there was one point early in my career when I was thinking about getting into UIUX but eventually gave up since I thought it was too "basic" compared to architecture. Thoughts of changing career has come and gone over the years but I never really wanted to fully give up architecture because of my passion for the field, despite its lower return and heavy responsibilities. I will look at what you have suggested, maybe there could be something I can do part time after my day job.
The biggest thing that has kept me slammed for the ten years I've been on my own designing homes and renovations has probably been continually educating potential clients, builders and my colleagues on good design, building science, sustainability, etc..
The first time I met my now-frequent collaborator on educational efforts, who is also my main competitor, was at a conference where she was presenting and said, "those who educate the market own the market." I grew up believing that those who can't do, teach, and that is certainly true for some, but her comment flipped a switch for me.
I work alone in a tiny office in my home in rural Maine, yet thanks largely to my education efforts, with essentially zero advertising and a lame website, I am one of the better-known architects or designers in my state and I can refer potential clients to builders and architects I know all over the US, and some in Canada. It does require continual learning and polishing presentation skills, but I also have a fairly severe stutter yet I speak at conferences etc., so if I can do it, I'm sure that you can as well, on whatever topic interests you.
I formed my LLC and went solo full-time in January, 2016, but I had been working part-time on the side for a few years before that. I started my design career in 2002 after working for six years as a full-time carpentry contractor, and returned to carpentry a few times since 2002 in between other things.
Wood Guy It is quite inspiring to hear about how you get to where you are today. When you first started on your own, I suppose you used the connections you built up over the years when you were a carpentry contractor?
You would have thought but no, I did carpentry in another state for the most part. Most of my early projects came through builders I had met through networking and from them reading the articles I had written.
I'm about to start a project for a multi- family building (40 or so units) and am in NY- just north of the city.
I would welcome a conversation
Great, just messaged you in private.
message me again with contact info off this platform
I messaged you yesterday, did you receive by any chance?
dude is not satisfied with $110K salary. I know too many people working in NYC making waaaaaaaaaay under that. Man, I would be ecstatic to make $110K with 8 yrs experience.
The average starting pay for a fresh grad in NYC is $70k. I'd rethink your views on this.
It's really not much and like what OddArchitect had pointed out, the starting salary for new grad has increased over the years and honestly the money is just not enough or justified in my point of view if you look at the kind of stress and responsibilities that a mid level architect need to take working on a mid-large project under a corporate environment.
yoni - it sounds like a firm culture thing. I know when my sister worked in NYC there was this idea that architects needed to 'suffer' for their art. That's BS. No matter the firm or project type you shouldn't be working more than 40-45 hours a week for non managing partners.
I have a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from UNM - my undergraduate work was in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Business Administration, and Community & Regional Planning (grad level) - MPA courses were Contemporary Public Administration; Public Financial Administration; Public Financial Management; Public Budgeting; Public Personnel Administration; Program Evaluation; Administrative Law; and Employee Relations in the Public Sector - I have a retired licensed architect friend who was the NM State Architect and the School Architect for the Albuquerque Public Schools system - high pay, healthcare, vacations, travel, and full retirement after 20 years - most states offer similar benefits - in the meantime, or during you public sector career, become part of an investment group the builds spec. homes for sale where you set the price and you provide the CD's - I did this in Scottsdale where the team was the general contractor, building designer, and 5 las Vegas doctors - this is passive income that can go into your IRA retirement account - retire at 55 ...
Great that you point out this path that falls outside of what a lot of people think about as a typical architecture career. My undergrad and grad school teachers conditioned all of us students to think that being a starchitect is the only thing worth doing in the industry. It's important to unlearn that.
I've done a traditional architectural career for the past 22 years. Three years ago I became a junior partner in the firm I'm with.
There is a 75% chance that I'll be able to retire at 55. If I wasn't a type 1 diabetic I could easily retire at 55, live to 88 and die with about $12 million still in the bank.
I'm not from money, I haven't inherited anything, and I haven't won the lottery.
I did side gigs and then started my own firm. I recommend you stay close to the market you know. Going from corporate work to room renovations or two family homes is a big leap and if you are taking on clients you can get burned. In the corporate market, 8 years experience may not be enough to develop contacts and clients. You should consider getting some experience in a small firm, if you really want to do small projects, or waiting a few years in your current firm to get exposure to clients and consultants (a great source of side gigs). Good luck!
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