Architectural and Engineering Managers
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.
Work Environment: Most architectural and engineering managers work in offices, although some may also work in research laboratories and industrial production plants or at construction sites. Most work full time and some work more than 40 hours a week.
How to Become One: Architectural and engineering managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree and considerable work experience as an architect or engineer.
Salary: The median annual wage for architectural and engineering managers is $152,350.
Job Outlook: Employment of architectural and engineering managers is projected to grow 2 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of architectural and engineering managers with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as an architectural or engineering manager with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Architect Manager Jobs
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Architect
- MKA International, Inc.
- Walnut Creek, CA
Manage multiple project assignments, executing them on time and within budget. * Retention and ... State of California Licensed Architect through NCARB's ARE examination. Multiple state ...
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Construction Project Manager
- Wilshire Pacific Builders
- Chandler, AZ
Interface with project inspectors, contractors, architects , engineers, city and county officials ... Previous experience in construction management or other related fields * Familiarity with ...
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Hospital Manager Facilities and Construction
- Clinical Management Consultants
- Fairfield, CA
The Manager of Facilities and Construction will be responsible for coordinating with architects , engineers, and contractors to conceptualize and execute designs that optimize patient care delivery ...
Top 3 Engineering Manager Jobs
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Construction Project Manager, MEP Experience
- Douglas Emmett
- Santa Monica, CA
ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGER Summary Under the supervision and direction of the Director of Engineering Services, the Engineering Project Manager is responsible for running the Engineering Services ...
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Project Manager
- GTSC
- Chantilly, VA
The Project Manager will help support upper management in running a federal government program. The ... Demonstrated success in working with diverse teams of engineers , developers , analysts, and business ...
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Senior Water Resilience Project Manager
- Dewberry
- Fairfax, VA
Dewberry has been providing engineering services to the Hampton Roads region since 2010 and has ... Manage , lead, execute, and/or provide technical support for resilience, water resources, and hazard ...
What Architectural and Engineering Managers Do[About this section] [To Top]
Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.
Duties of Architectural and Engineering Managers
Architectural and engineering managers typically do the following:
- Make detailed plans for the development of new products and designs
- Determine staff, training, and equipment needs
- Propose budgets for projects and programs
- Hire and supervise staff
- Lead research and development projects to produce new products, processes, or designs
- Check the technical accuracy of their staff's work
- Ensure the soundness of methods their staff uses
- Coordinate work with other staff and managers
Architectural and engineering managers use their knowledge of architecture or engineering to oversee a variety of activities. They may direct and coordinate building activities at construction sites or activities related to production, operations, quality assurance, testing, or maintenance at manufacturing sites.
Architectural and engineering managers are responsible for developing the overall concept of a new product or for solving the technical problems that prevent the completion of a project. To accomplish this, they must determine technical goals and produce detailed plans.
Architectural and engineering managers spend a great deal of time coordinating the activities of their staff with the activities of other staff or organizations. They often confer with other managers, including those in finance, production, and marketing, as well as with contractors and equipment and materials suppliers.
In addition, architectural and engineering managers must know how to prepare budgets, hire staff, and supervise employees. They propose budgets for projects and programs and determine staff, training, and equipment needs. These managers must also hire people and assign them specific parts of each project to carry out. Architectural and engineering managers supervise the work of their employees, set schedules, and create administrative procedures.
Work Environment for Architectural and Engineering Managers[About this section] [To Top]
Architectural and engineering managers hold about 191,100 jobs. The largest employers of architectural and engineering managers are as follows:
| Manufacturing | 35% |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | 28% |
| Government | 9% |
| Scientific research and development services | 6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5% |
Most architectural and engineering managers work in offices, although some may also work in research laboratories and industrial production plants or at construction sites.
Architectural and Engineering Manager Work Schedules
Most architectural and engineering managers work full time and some work more than 40 hours a week. These managers are often under considerable pressure to meet deadlines and budgets.
How to Become an Architectural or Engineering Manager[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Architectural and Engineering Managers near you!
Architectural and engineering managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree and considerable work experience as an architect or engineer.
Education for Architectural and Engineering Managers
Most architectural and engineering managers have at least a bachelor's degree in an engineering specialty or a master's degree in architecture.
Some also obtain business management skills by completing a master's degree in engineering management (MEM or MsEM) or technology management (MSTM) or a master's degree in business administration (MBA). Some workers earn their master's degree before advancing to management positions, and others earn it while they work as a manager. Typically, those who prefer to manage in technical areas pursue an MsEM or MSTM and those interested in more general management skills earn an MBA.
Engineering management programs usually include classes in accounting, engineering economics, financial management, industrial and human resources management, and quality control.
Technology management programs typically provide instruction in production and operations management, project management, computer applications, quality control, safety and health issues, statistics, and general management principles.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation for Architectural and Engineering Managers
Managers advance to their positions after years of employment as an architect or engineer. They usually have experience working on difficult or complex projects, developing designs, solving problems, and making decisions. Before moving up to a management position, they also typically gain experience leading engineering teams.
Important Qualities for Architectural and Engineering Managers
Analytical skills. Architectural and engineering managers must evaluate information carefully and solve complex problems.
Communication skills. Architectural and engineering managers oversee staff and work together with other levels of management. They must effectively communicate orders and lead teams to meet goals.
Detail oriented. Architectural and engineering managers must pay attention to detail. Their duties require an understanding of complex systems since a minor error can cause major problems.
Math skills. Architectural and engineering managers use calculus and other advanced mathematics to develop new products and processes.
Organizational skills. Architectural and engineering managers keep track of many workers, schedules, and budgets simultaneously.
Architectural and Engineering Manager Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for architectural and engineering managers is $152,350. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $99,350, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $208,000.
The median annual wages for architectural and engineering managers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Scientific research and development services | $187,240 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | $164,060 |
| Manufacturing | $151,890 |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | $151,890 |
| Government | $135,150 |
In addition, some architectural and engineering managers may receive more benefits—such as expense accounts and bonuses—than workers who are not managers.
Most architectural and engineering managers work full time and some work more than 40 hours a week. These managers are often under considerable pressure to meet deadlines and budgets.
Job Outlook for Architectural and Engineering Managers[About this section] [To Top]
Employment of architectural and engineering managers is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 14,000 openings for architectural and engineering managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Architectural and Engineering Managers
Employment growth will largely reflect the growth of the industries in which these managers are employed. Demand for civil engineering services is expected to continue as the nation's aging infrastructure requires expansion and repair. Mechanical and electrical engineering services should also be needed for projects such as wind turbine farms and other renewable energy construction and design.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Architectural and engineering managers | 191,100 | 195,500 | 2 | 4,400 |
More Architectural and Engineering Manager Information[About this section] [To Top]
For information on architecture and engineering management programs, visit
American Institute of Architects
Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.