Do you enjoy working with electrical and lighting systems? Do you have strong science and math skills? If so, architectural engineering may be for you! Architectural engineers focus on the engineering aspects of a building and may work with architects on their projects. They work to ensure buildings are sustainable, safe, and efficient.
Architectural Engineering uses practical and theoretical knowledge and includes many of the engineering aspects of a building such as mechanical, electrical, designs, drawings, calculations, and more. Their main goal is to improve the design and function of buildings to ensure that they are high-preforming, sustainable, safe and efficient.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree
Skills Needed
Manufacturing engineers can enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, although some employers will require a postgraduate degree or specific additional industry certification. These specialized engineers are typically very detail-oriented and should be skilled problem-solvers.
Average Salary
$70k-$135k
Manufacturing engineers design and manage production and manufacturing processes and systems from raw materials to finished product. They are also responsible for considering efficiency and economy along with product quality. Manufacturing engineers may also oversee procurement, installation and maintenance of production equipment.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Skills Needed
Architectural project managers will need a bachelor’s degree at minimum as well as several years of industry experience. Employers may require industry licensure or certification. Project managers should be highly organized, expedient at solving problems, and able to effectively direct the work of others.
Average Salary
98k
Architectural project managers direct the process of designing and building. This may include reviewing blueprints and design documents, monitoring construction schedules, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, overseeing safety protocols, ensuring the acquisition of the proper permits, and producing reports. They work both on-site and in-office.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Skills Needed
To enter the field, structural engineers must obtain at least a bachelor’s degree. Most employers will require professional accreditation and many will require postsecondary education. Structural engineers should have excellent technical skills, extreme attention to detail, and superior problem-solving/solution-finding ability.
Average Salary
$66k
Structural engineers share some responsibilities with architects, although structural engineers focus on the safety and structural integrity of a building. They consider stability, materials and factors such as environment and use. Structural engineers may analyze plans, oversee building regulation approvals, monitor construction and perform inspections.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Skills Needed
Architects must earn at least a bachelor’s degree and will also be required to obtain licensure. They should be creative, exceptionally organized, and have the ability to visualize three-dimensionally. They should also be excellent communicators and have good people skills.
Average Salary
$72k-$83k
Architects design structures for private and public use from the simplest of commercial buildings to houses and multistory buildings. They take into account numerous factors in each project such as aesthetics, functionality, structural soundness, maintenance, budget and construction timeline. Architects typically are involved in the building process from start to finish and may be responsible for administrative details such as contracts and permits.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree
Skills Needed
Both interior architects and interior designers will typically need a bachelor’s degree, and sometimes industry certification, to successfully enter the field. Both need to have excellent visualization ability, pay close attention to detail, and have good interpersonal/communication skills.
Average Salary
$72k
Interior architects design building interiors—space planning, fixtures, trims, elevations, doorways and stairwells, etc.—while interior designers are involved with furnishings and decor details from paint color to flooring. Both focus on the finishing touches of a building’s interior to make it both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Both also produce hard-copy or virtual renderings; create estimates, timelines and reports; work closely with clients; and help oversee project execution.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Skills Needed
Aspiring CAD/BIM managers should earn a bachelor’s degree followed by several years of entry-level experience, usually as a CAD or BIM technician. They typically work in collaboration with a team and should be skilled in directing staff as well as managing the technical details of developing a project.
Average Salary
$73k - $81k
CAD is an acronym for computer-aided design. BIM stands for building information modeling. Both are digital technology tools used in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. CAD and BIM technicians (formerly called draftsmen or draftspersons) are essential in the planning, design and construction process. CAD/BIM managers oversee the production of virtual, three-dimensional visualizations for a planned facility or project.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Skills Needed
Acousticians typically have earned a bachelor’s degree. They may work with clients to address noise pollution or to enhance acoustics for desired sound such as music, so excellent interpersonal and communication skills are needed. Acousticians should also have high levels of both patience and focus for what can be precise and exacting work.
Average Salary
$68k
Acousticians specialize in the study of sound. They typically are involved in managing and controlling noise and vibration in environments such as manufacturing facilities and medical buildings, but they may also work in the entertainment or music industry.
Education Requirements
Master's degree
Skills Needed
City planners typically need master’s degree-level education. Because they work with government officials, developers, and even the public, they should have outstanding communication and presentation skills. They should also be good at reviewing and analyzing large amounts of data and be able to make sound recommendations considering numerous factor and multiple points of view.
Average Salary
$82k
City planners—also called urban planners or regional planners—develop communities, usually as part of or in coordination with local governing bodies. City planners help direct both expansion and revitalization, weighing factors such as population growth, natural resources, and business support.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree
Skills Needed
A bachelor’s degree and training in architectural software is typically required. Successful architects need outstanding visualization abilities, problem-solving aptitude and some knowledge of horticulture. Because they are likely to work with diverse teams, they should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Average Salary
$66k
Landscape architects design spaces like parks, recreational areas, gardens, grounds and campuses for public spaces or commercial or residential clients. Depending on the project, they may work with consideration to existing structures, roads, walking paths and trees or other greenery. They may also help plan the location of structures if brought in early enough for projects involving new development.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree
Skills Needed
A typical sustainability specialist will have a bachelor’s degree, but educational requirements vary by employer. Sustainability specialists should be sincerely interested in social responsibility and environmental stewardship. They should be analytical, driven problem-solvers, and skilled at communicating with people at all levels in an organization.
Average Salary
$78k
Sustainability specialists research, analyze, propose and often implement measures to improve the environment with a focus on what their client or employer can do to save energy, respect the environment, or build “green.” They usually have knowledge and expertise in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and other recognized certifications.
Career salary data provided by: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook handbook and O*NET OnLine.
