Architects’ salaries have not kept pace with the broader economy, says new AIA report on architects’ salaries during COVID-19 findings | News

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released the latest edition of its semi-annual compensation report, providing insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on architects’ salaries. The report found that despite a severe economic downturn in the first half of 2020, salaries for architectural staff in the United States have changed little over the past two years.

The report also found that between February and July 2020, U.S. architectural firms lost 16,000 positions, or 8% of all salaried positions. The profession nevertheless showed greater resilience compared to the economy as a whole, where 21 million salaried positions, or 16.5% of the total wage bill, were lost.

“Like many professions, architectural firms across the country have had to navigate an incredibly volatile time,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker. “While we have seen an unprecedented recovery in architectural firm billings in 2021, this report provides valuable insight into the impact the pandemic had last year on the compensation and employment levels of architectural firms. businesses.”

However, the report notes that in recent years, increases in architects’ compensation have not kept pace with the broader economy. Between 2019 and 2021, architects’ compensation increased by 0.3% per year, while all professional compensation in the United States increased by 2.4% over the same period, and the average for all workers private sector increased by 3.1%.

The report also found that the average salary for recent architecture graduates was around $56,000, ranging between $48,000 and $69,000 depending on the region of the country. Meanwhile, at companies with fewer than 50 employees, benefits as a share of base pay have declined to an average of 14.4% in 2020, from more than 18% two decades ago.

The full report can be purchased online at the AIA’s website here, while the AIA’s online salary calculator available here offers more information on architectural salary ranges across the country. To participate in the Archinect Architectural Salary Survey or to compare its results, click here.

The AIA’s latest report is one of many recent insights into the architectural sector over the past year. Last week, the AIA released its Architecture Billing Index for July, showing six consecutive months of positive billing for enterprises. Meanwhile, last month the organization released a report concluding that construction is expected to increase from 2022. Also last month, a federal government report revealed that residential construction in the United States is accelerating, but that not all regions feel the boom in the same way.