Architectural and Engineering Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
What it pays
Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $82.34/hr — about $171,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $58.08/hr; the top 10% earn $126.33/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $82.34/hr — about $171,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $58.08/hr; the top 10% earn $126.33/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in architecture or engineering projects.
- Direct, review, or approve project design changes.
- Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications.
- Prepare budgets, bids, or contracts.
- Present and explain proposals, reports, or findings to clients.
- Confer with management, production, or marketing staff to discuss project specifications or procedures.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
The feel of the work
It rewards working independently. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 0.2% of architectural and engineering managers are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are take-charge, analytical and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
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Quick questions
- How much does a architectural and engineering manager make?
- The median pay is $82.34 per hour — roughly $171,500 a year, with the real range running from about $58.08/hr (10th percentile) to $126.33/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a architectural and engineering manager?
- The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
- What does a architectural and engineering manager actually do all day?
- Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in architecture or engineering projects. Direct, review, or approve project design changes. Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.