11 Steps to Make a Six-Figure Salary as an Architect

Making a six-figure salary as an architect is a very achievable feat if you play your cards right and, of course, work hard. There are several things you can pour into your work ethic and performance in order to climb the ladder and reach a position where you can bring home the big bucks. But none of the journey is without its hardships. You will have to put in a lot of dedication and labor, along with knowing when to spend your energy and when to preserve it. The following are some things you should consider to climb the career ladder as an architect:

Get a License

One of the first pieces of advice you will get to become a high-ranking architect is to become licensed. Sure, if you are just starting out, it could take a few years before you can acquire a license. Getting a license can also be expensive, but it is something that you will require eventually to become established in the business.

If you are already working as an architect or aspire to work as one, think of all the senior architects you know or admire? Chances are that most of them are licensed and registered architects. There may be exceptions, sure, but more often than not, you need a license to advance in the field the way you aspire to. It could be a long and arduous process, but from the point that you become an architect, start working your way slowly towards acquiring a license.

Specialize

This is perhaps one of the most important ways of getting to a six-figure salary position. Is there something that you alone specialize in and nobody else can bring to the table? That automatically puts you in a position where you can ask for a larger sum simply because nobody else can do what you do. It eliminates competition which will invariably be there when you only have generic skills to offer.

So find a niche within architecture you enjoy and specialize in it. This, of course, may take a few years but if you get ample experience, it will be easier for you to make up your mind about the field you want to specialize in.

Acquire Skills

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No matter where you are in your career, it is never too late to acquire and develop more skills. The more you have to offer as your skill set, the greater the chance that you will be sought after and can demand a higher salary. You would also benefit from getting a specialization. The following are the skills you can acquire:

Soft Skills

  • Leadership skills
  • Decision-making skills
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Creativity
  • Teamwork
  • Time management

Hard Skills

  • Drawing skills and knowledge
  • Design skills
  • Data analysis
  • Degrees and qualifications
  • Software knowledge
  • Awareness of industry
  • Foreign languages

The only way to acquire these skills is to get as much experience as possible. Whether through internships or through participating in more projects in your full-time job, these are skills you can pick up along the way.

Take on Responsibility

Whatever project or job you are engaged in, try to take on as much responsibility as you can. This can be scary and nerve-wracking. After all, to learn more skills, you will have to stretch beyond your comfort zone and perform tasks that you may have had no experience in before. But this is a sure shot way of gaining more confidence in the profession and showing more for your work. The more experience you can show, naturally, the greater your leverage point for asking for a better pay grade.

Other than that though, it is great for your own personal growth to push yourself and strive to achieve beyond your job profile. So take the initiative and grab every opportunity to learn more!

Participate in Performance Reviews

While some firms may have a formal annual performance review practice, if the firm you are working at does not, take the initiative to get some feedback from your supervisors. Think of it as a good way to learn from your mistakes or defend yourself if your supervisor brings up a point you do not agree with. This also displays sincerity on your part which your supervisors are sure to acknowledge.

But more than anything else, this is valuable feedback that can be extremely useful to you in your work. Improvement in work will ideally translate into a pay raise.

Move to a Bigger City

In an urban setup, you are more likely to work at a bigger firm where you can aspire to a higher pay grade and have more scope for growth. The biggest perk of working in a big city is that the salary is bound to be higher than at an equivalent job in a rural environment. Of course, the expense of living in a big city may also be correspondingly higher, but the construction hubs in larger cities may be the hotbed for fresh talent.

Besides, there is always a way of budgeting your life in a big city. You do not need to live in a swanky apartment. “Slum” it for a few years with a roommate or a smaller apartment and cut down your living expenses. There may be a hard few years, but in the long run, you will be able to save more and have more financial stability.

Get Multiple Streams of Income

This may not be your desired way to get a six-figure salary, but if what you are concerned with is cracking that $100K mark, then additional sources of income become very important when you are just starting out. In your free time, pick up some freelance architectural work. You can offer your knowledge in model building or offer other services in the field. Who knows, perhaps something more lucrative than your day job appears out of your second job. Of course, be sure that the time you spend on your second job does not eat into your primary job, but as long as your priorities are in place, you should not have trouble balancing the two.

Become a Consultant

If a full-time job at an architectural firm is not offering you the kind of growth you would like, explore your options as a consultant. There is a good chance, in fact, that you will end up earning more money and experience as a consultant than by working full-time at a single firm.

If stamping papers and the logistical aspect of working at a firm is not what you enjoy doing, you can escape all of those things in a consulting job and also possibly make more money.

Switch Jobs

When you are starting out, the salary increase may be between 10% and 20%. But often, when you continue in the same company, it may be hard to get a substantial raise. If you are strategic about it, you can leverage your position for a greater salary at a different firm. Gone are the days where working at the same company for 20 years was a marker of success. Today, you need to work smart and go wherever your career path takes you.

Who knows, when you put in your papers, your current employers may raise your salary and you can work out a deal that is satisfactory to you. This, of course, does not mean you should threaten to leave your current employer every time you are looking for a raise. All it means is that you should know your worth.

Be a Good Team Player

The key to being a good team player is to support those around you. Try as far as you can to reduce your colleague’s stress (without overburdening yourself). When you are seen as a pleasant colleague to work with who does not succumb under pressure, you are naturally marked as a leader. Leadership skills are extremely important if you want to be considered for a higher salary.

Anyone who is at the top and earning the six-figure salaries you aspire to is someone with leadership qualities.

Network

Whether you are interested in starting your own firm (a good way to work towards that six-figure salary) or whether you simply want to bring business to your current employer, networking is of utmost importance. If you can market yourself and network well, clients will come to you automatically. For your own firm, that means the possibility of greater profits. For your employer, it means you are the star player who is bringing the business and, therefore, deserves a raise.

Final Thoughts

The riches of the world will not come to you overnight. It goes without saying that you have to put in the work to get that six-figure salary. Along the way, the pressure of work and keeping up may also threaten to break your spirit, but keep your eyes on the prize and stride on. More than the six-figure salary, however, is self-preservation. So do not expect to get the fruits overnight and overwork yourself for immediate results. Pace yourself, set realistic goals, and have the patience that the fruits will eventually be sweet.

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