The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released the latest edition of their biannual Compensation Report, offering an insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on architectural salaries. The report found that despite a steep economic recession during the first half of 2020, salaries for architectural staff in the U.S. saw little change over the past two years.
The report also found that between February and July 2020, U.S. architecture firms lost 16,000 positions, or 8% of all payroll positions. The profession nonetheless showed a higher resiliency compared to the overall economy, where 21 million payroll positions, or 16.5% of total payrolls, were lost.
“Like many professions, architecture firms across the country have had to weather an incredibly volatile period,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker. “While we have seen an unprecedented recovery in architecture firm billings during 2021, this report provides a valuable snapshot of the impact the pandemic had last year on firm compensation and employment levels.”
However, the report notes that over the past few years, increases in the architect’s compensation have not kept pace with the broader economy. Between 2019 and 2021, architect compensation increased by 0.3% per year, while all professional compensation in the U.S. increased by 2.4% in the same period, and the average for all workers in the private sector increased by 3.1%.
The report also found that the average compensation for recent architecture graduates was approximately $56,000, ranging between $48,000 and $69,000 depending on the region of the country. Meanwhile, at firms with fewer than 50 employees, benefits as a share of base pay declined to an average of 14.4% in 2020, down from over 18% two decades ago.
The full report is available to purchase online on the AIA’s website here, while the AIA’s online salary calculator available here offers more insights into architecture salary ranges across the country. To participate in Archinect's ongoing Architecture Salary Poll, or to compare its results, click here.
The latest AIA report is one of a number of recent insights into the business of architecture over the last year. Last week, the AIA published its Architecture Billings Index for July showing six consecutive months of positive billings for firms. Last month, meanwhile, the organization published a report finding that construction should surge from 2022 onwards. Also last month, a report from the federal government found that U.S. residential construction is accelerating, but that not all regions are feeling the boom equally.
28 Comments
This is good data, but old. 2021 is a very different ballgame. Myself and everyone I know is scrambling to find staff. Architectural employers are currently being forced to raise wages, but its too soon to be picked up in the AIA's economic reporting.
"Forced" to raise wages. Shocking yet totally believable choice of words coming from an employer.
I'd actually like to see an audit of the member firms data provided to the organization that represents them, as one would assume that there's a cooking of the books, so as to deliberately force down wage growth. Face it, firms suck at getting paid their value, and pass along the failure, or should I say force their failures onto their staff.
Trickle-down.
.... just means they are pissing on you and telling you to like it.
News flash. WAGES have not kept pace with economic growth. If you work at a firm, you are a worker. Talk to your coworkers about your salary. Take collective action. Help each other.✊
Don't wait for the AIA to help you either. The AIA lobbies for FIRM OWNERS not architects at large. But no one will take action we are all just temporarily embarrassed firm owners.
Entry level arch wages and retail/fast food/amazon warehouse wages are reaching parity. Lucky to top out at 100k in select cities. Rent increased 25% yoy in some places. Median house in US is now 390k. Time to abandon ship.
Architects salaries have not kept pace with the broader economy since the early 1970's!
Architecture is a career only for trust-fund kids. For the rest, it is a lifetime of grind.
Some economists calculate that the inflation rate is about 9%. If this is maintained throughout the Biden four years it would take a $100,000 salary at the end of his term to equal what a $70,000 salary is today. That would not be a raise at all, but just maintaining the current buying power.
Got a link for the source of that 9% inflation rate calculation ... and a responsible source forecasting it will hold through Biden's term?
The broader point is interesting, the thinly veiled attempt to blame Biden is not.
The broader point is only interesting if it's true/conceivable. This is so far out there is seems completely insane. The White House just released an updated forecast that puts inflation at 4.8 percent for the year (more than doubling their previous forecast), then dropping to 2.5 percent in 2022 (NYT article on this). Earlier this month Kiplinger said it was at 5.4 percent and would drop to 3 percent in 2022. I've not seen anyone [seriously] saying 9 percent, and definitely not forecasting to hold there for Biden's term.
Some architects can get paid millions of dollars for holding a roll of plans under their arm and taking off their eyeglasses and gesturing at things. Those architects are forecast to command fees that will greatly outpace any amount of inflation.
See how that just seems stupid because you know I just made it up?
I understand and agree.
All those numbers are bullshit and simply used to justify policies that reward the overlaoded and punish everyone else.
If the 3.5 trillion spending bill gets signed 9% inflation will be a fond memory. Gasoline is already up 45% in 2021. My post is no 'thinly veiled' attempt to blame Biden. He is completely senile, incompetent and should be removed from office.
http://www.shadowstats.com/alt...
Your understanding of economics is worse than your understanding of politics.
Shadowstats.com, lol. You know that citing Shadowstats is so often done in the comments section as an attempt to refute the inflation numbers as too low that it's not even an inside joke anymore ... https://www.thestreet.com/economonitor/emerging-markets/deconstructing-shadowstats-why-is-it-so-loved-by-its-followers-but-scorned-by-economists
Why is it these dopey cuckservatives keep on with their intellectual dishonesty, is it the only card left in their deck? Gas, up 45%, over 2020? Um yeah. But pretty much in line with 2019. So, what was different in 2020? Were you even awake?
Oh, by the by, President Harris is fine by me.
It is an infrastructure plan that expands healthcare, housing, education, and addresses climate change. It is a policy proposal put forth by dedicated public servants for the betterment of all Americans.
Well, gas prices were down 15% in 2020 relative to 2019. They are up 45% since the start of this year.
My house has gained 15% in value in the nine months since the start of the year. that is a 22% annual rate.
There are widespread supply chain disruptions in anything manufactured, the food chain, and (gasp) building materials, which are also driving up prices and fueling inflation.
What's important is that we focus the president who has complete control over the levers of economics and is so powerful that he did all of this in 7 months. None of this has anything to do with the global pandemic, which surely hasn't triggered wild volatility on both the demand and supply side of nearly everything. That's the message I'm getting from Volunteer.
completely agree. Who would give a thumbs down. Liberals just don’t get it. Guess the country needs to be completely destroyed before they get it.
completely agree. Who would give a thumbs down. Conservatives just don’t get it. Guess the country needs to be completely destroyed before they get it.
This douche's first post, and already I hate them. Cuckservatives blow.
this is all you got?
If you're gonna show up to argue, all we ask is that your argument pass a Turing test.
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