<p>While I am obviously in architecture for my interest, I was wondering about architecture salaries in a less urban area (most examples I see for architecture salaries are from giant firms in New York, for example). I know one architect, who 8 years ago at 40 years old opened his own firm and now lives quite comfortably (I'd estimate $100,000 or more a year). So when people say that architects make very low salaries, is that specifically when you take the firm track, or is my friend just lucky and hit it off at the right time in the right place?</p>
<p>I don't think you are going to find significant differences in salaries among major metropolitan areas such as New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, or Denver. However California does seem to be higher because of its cost of living.</p>
<p>Smaller cities are a different story. When I was leaving New York I looked at moving to Asheville, N.C. and the offers I got were 50% of what I was making. So if you want to live in a smaller town, then salaries are going to be lower. Particularly in towns where the economy is not booming, or places where everybody wants to live and the competition is really tough.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>I was more talking about the difference between working in a firm compared to heading a private firm. That still helps greatly though. Thanks!</p>
<p>"Heading a private firm" is as dicey as any small business. My husband has had his own architecture firm since the mid 1980's. Our income has ranged from $200,000 one year to $14,000 last year. Best if supplemented by a spouse who works for an established firm with healthcare benefits and retirement accounts.</p>
<p>Too true, working for yourself is always a gamble. The other thing that factors into people talking about architects as having low salaries is the idea of return on investment: once you've factored in the cost of 5-7 years of schooling, exam fees, AIA dues, etc. that $100k (only reached after working for over 20 years, mind) doesn't sound quite as hot. People compare this to engineering, business, or development, and see that architects make a bigger investment for a smaller gain, and that leads them to say the salaries are low. So empirically they aren't so low--there are plenty of people making less than architects--but the cost/benefit ratio is on the lower end.</p>
<p>This month's Architecture magazine has a good salary survey that will give you a good picture of professional pay at all different levels in the profession. Unfortunately it is not on the web yet, but if you can pick it up at a local bookstore it will answer a lot of your questions.</p>
<p>As far as owning a private firm the answer is that it varies. If you own a 1,000 person office then you are making in the millions, if it consists of just you, then compensation will be a little lower ;-)</p>
<p>rick</p>