What Can You Do With An Architecture Degree? 8 Career Prospects

“What can you do with an architecture degree?” Great question!

Architecture is the art and science of designing structures. Translating artistic design into mathematical language is a skill architecture graduates excel at. 

Did you know that numerous careers need the creative and mathematical skills architects possess? And it’s a highly sought after degree for employers! Lets get to the list of career prospects for Architects.

1. Architect

The architect’s main job is to design buildings to ensure they will be functional and safe for those who dwell in them. Typical buildings include houses, offices, apartments, malls, and factories. Architects can also work with the restoration of old buildings. The annual base salary of architects is £42,434. 

Here are the typical responsibilities of architects:

• Discuss with clients what they envision for the project
• Use modelling computer software to nail down the design
• Prepare design drafts with the necessary details for clients’ approval
• Modify designs and details when clients want revisions
• Identify which colour scheme works best 
• Determine which materials work best for the project
• Procure and organise permit documents so the project can begin
• Research how to comply with the laws and regulations relevant to the project 
• Coordinate with engineers, contractors, and others to complete the project
• Visit the construction site to keep track of the progress
• Check to see if the actual building stays on track according to plan

Do you have the skill necessary to design buildings? Consider being an architect! The first step is work out what a-levels are required for architecture to study at the best UK universities for Architecture!

2. Town Planner

A town planner focuses on making a town sustainable and economically efficient. They achieve this by making recommendations on where to build specific buildings. Looking at the whole picture to see how structures and spaces go together is a town planner’s cup of tea. A town planner’s average annual salary is £22,000.

Here are the responsibilities of a town planner:

• Make schools, hospitals, and houses accessible to everyone. 
• Collect data to determine the needs of the community, businesses, and environment.
• Interact with local officials in planning, presenting, and implementation. 
• Present plans to the public and listen to feedback. 
• Apply all applicable laws and regulations
• Protect buildings with cultural or historical importance.
• Guard conserved and protected areas from the public.
• Determine where to build specific projects.

Are you interested in making towns inspiring for communities to dwell in? Then, becoming a town planner might be your cup of tea!

3. Building Surveyor

Building surveyors advise how to build new buildings or repair existing ones. To give proper advice, building surveyors need to examine the site and make necessary assessments. The yearly average salary of building surveyors is £52,500 

Here are the responsibilities of building surveyors:

• Visit the site and assess its condition
• Make a detailed, technical report of the site assessment
• Look out what defects need repair
• Suggest how best to build a new building
• Present the report to the stakeholders
• Consider the best step forward for the environment
• Ensure the safety of everyone involved
• Recommend how the project should operate in light of rules and regulations

You may want to become a building surveyor if you have a quick eye for repairing defects.

4. Interior Designer

An Interior Designer understands how to make the space functional and pleasing to the eye. So when you enter a room, and everything seems to fit in the right place, chances are an interior designer has worked on it. They consider everything from the colour scheme to decorative pieces. The average base salary of interior designers is £35,186 per year. 

Here are the typical responsibilities of an interior designer:

• Determine what the clients need their space to be. What’s the goal?
• Create design drafts to present to clients for feedback and approval
• Decide what materials, colour scheme, and furniture to use
• Construct a timeline and make a budget proposal
• Collaborate with engineers, planners, and more to make the project happen according to the agreement
• Make the right purchases according to budget.
• Check to see if the contractors installed the materials properly
• Interact with the clients to ensure they’re happy with the results. 

Have you always had the natural inclination to beautify a space and make it functional? Then, you’d make an excellent interior designer! 

5. Urban Designer 

An urban designer keeps an eye on how to use urban land. Urban designers must be familiar with the environmental, political, social, and economic factors to maximise land use. Urban designers have an average annual salary of £37,500.

Here are the responsibilities of urban designers:

• Inspect sites and make sure the buildings, roads, public spaces and other areas are seamless together
• Check out how urban spaces are being used and how they can be used better in the future
• Determine how your design can serve the people best
• Construct community design plans
• Lead community group meetings to educate locals about plans
• Check with local officials for future visions and missions
• Collaborate with engineers, architects, planners, and others. 
• Use computer programs for more detailed technical drawings.
• Present your plans to teammates and stakeholders.

Do you have the skill and desire to maximise urban spaces? Why not explore urban designing? 

6. Production Designer 

A production designer’s primary responsibility is the visual set of a film or theatre production. They consider crucial factors such as location, lighting, props, camera angles to bring the set to life. If you’re wondering what a production designer’s average base salary is, it’s £24,500. 

Here are the responsibilities of a production designer:

• Study the script to determine what visual theme stands out
• Discuss with producers and directors about the visual theme and what materials you’ll need to pull it off. 
• Come up with a design budget proposal
• Sketch out what the final product should look like
• Research where to get the materials according to budget
• Build and manage an art department team to keep everything on track
• Be present during meetings and rehearsals to give much-needed visual advice

If the thought of working in the entertainment industry fascinates you, you might want to bring your architecture skills to play!

7. Structural Engineer 

Structural engineers ensure the integrity of buildings. They need to have an in-depth understanding of physics. Having an eye for technical details is also essential to keep structures safe long-term. Structural engineers have an average base salary of £32,156 per year. 

Here are the responsibilities of structural engineers:

• Calculate how heavy the structure will be to make sure construction materials can hold it up
• Determine which materials work best for the supporting structures (e.g. columns)
• Responsible for managing the materials needed to complete the project.
• Check the soil quality to assess how suitable it is for the structure
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, local officials, and more for the planning and completion of the project
• Ensure everyone involved complies with rules and regulations
• Monitor contractors and their work 

Have you always excelled in your physics classes? Then, structural engineering can be a safe bet!

8. Historic Building Inspector 

Historic building inspectors conserve buildings with historical significance. They also engage in restoration projects for the benefit of the community. The conservation and restoration of historic buildings are vital to maintaining a national identity. Historic building inspectors have an average salary of £33,098 per year. 

Here are the responsibilities of historic building inspectors:

• Visit historical sites and assess their current state
• Present a report regarding conservation issues to local and national officials
• Create a plan on how to restore historic buildings while retaining their original essence
• Help conservation groups on developing strategies and policies to preserve historic buildings
• Engage with the public by listening to their opinion and providing necessary information
• Calculate costs for conservation and restoration, then present a budget plan to stakeholders
• Hire craftspeople who have the qualified skills to work on the project
• Gather the materials and stay within the budget
• Raise funds from grants, sponsors, and donations
• Comply with conservation standards both nationally and internationally 
• Help with law enforcers to protect historic buildings from threats. 

Protecting the heritage of your people conserved in historic buildings boosts national pride. Becoming a historic building inspector suits you best if you’re passionate about bolstering national pride!

Wrapping Up

What can you do with an architecture degree? You now have a decent map of the various paths you can take. The most direct route is to be an architect, of course. 

But if you’re looking forward to immersing yourself in the entertainment industry, you’d love to gain enough experience to be a production designer. Are you thinking of focusing more on making a space beautiful and functional? Perhaps Interior Design will make you more fulfilled. 

Are you a high school student looking to study Architecture at university? If you answered ‘Yes’, then you’ll want to attend our architecture summer courses for high school students. You’ll be surrounded by quintessentially beautiful architecture in the city of Cambridge and produce your own amazing portfolio.

Which one do you think will suit you most? We at Immerse Education wish you luck!