Architect Salary

I just stumbled across this thread and put in my 2cts for the benefit of all...

Its been 12 years since I graduated for archi school, spent 9+ years in an archi firm, 2 years in a local listed developer, and last 2 years in a local listed construction firm. I graduated with honours and started with a measely $1.8k per month. It was unfortunate that I entered the industry during one of the big down cycles.

It is a fact that the profession pays poorly in comparision to others. If you wanna earn big bucks, go to the finance industry and do high level sales. Its an unfortunate combination of under cutting of architects fees, being squeezed by clients, increase in law suites, and just the large number of people needed to handle a project.

Imagine a $100 million project getting fees of 1.5% spread over 3 years. That'd work out to $500k a year, $40k a month per project to feed the team working on it. You take out rent, overheads, CPF, taxes, reserves, you'd be lucky if you have half left. Divide that by your senior architect, achitect, senior draftsman, junior staff, you can imagine how small the pie gets.

The only way to maximize profit is to either squeeze everyone, or make the same people handle multiple projects which lead to poor work life balance. Go figure, there is no way out of this hole. Until the day professional fees can match what it is over in the US or Europe, this will continue. For the bosses, they only need to make sure they get a constant supply of work. If there is not enough profit, fire a couple of staff and make the rest work harder.

When I left the profession about 5 years back, my annual was $75k with bonus - it was considered above average back then. My annual now is between 120k to 140k depending on bonuses. Its not too bad but there are easier ways to earn that amount.

If you are starting out, the only way to keep you salary moving is to hop every couple of years. That way you make sure your pay is 'refreshed' to market rate regularly. If you stick to the same firm, you'd get a miserable $200 increment per year if you're lucky.

After having read all the comments, i am very much discourage to further my studies at nus architecture.

If i hope to achieve better work life balance and salary in the construction industry, what show i do? Should i do a course switch and get into project management or o a complte change into business to earn better?

I have heard about architectural draughters that are good at detailing earning better than architects. Is that true?

And are there architects earning big bucks in singapore where we are in the industry of being undercut?

Hope someone can advise me on these doubts.

Originally Posted by A sp arki student

After having read all the comments, i am very much discourage to further my studies at nus architecture.

If i hope to achieve better work life balance and salary in the construction industry, what show i do? Should i do a course switch and get into project management or o a complte change into business to earn better?

I have heard about architectural draughters that are good at detailing earning better than architects. Is that true?

And are there architects earning big bucks in singapore where we are in the industry of being undercut?

Hope someone can advise me on these doubts.

You want work life balance and earn big bucks at the same time? Get real, wake up and smell the coffee.

Happy New Year everyone!

I have a question on salary. Aside from the measly pay, WHEN exactly do you receive the pay? Is it on the last working day of the month, a few days before the end of the month, or the 1st week of the following month?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Happy New Year everyone!

I have a question on salary. Aside from the measly pay, WHEN exactly do you receive the pay? Is it on the last working day of the month, a few days before the end of the month, or the 1st week of the following month?

Every company's pay policy is different..they don't necessarily pay on the same day/week/month. Check with your colleagues.

Why nowadays architects are not earning? Is it that Singapore is too developed and hence architects are not earning as much as before?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Why nowadays architects are not earning? Is it that Singapore is too developed and hence architects are not earning as much as before?

In Singapore, it's only banking & finance and oil & gas.

the ugly truth about this profession is that there is no loyalty bonus, hence please wake up and never stick to a company for more than 3 years.. 2-3 years with a decent of 300-400 will be a good gadge to stay in the same firm, after 2 or 3 years, please jump. only then u will be paid and refreshed with new market benchmark and expect at least 500-1k increase from your previous pay.. this will hold true especially when your experienced increases. your current company will not give u increment of $500 - $1k unless you have a big promotion to next higher level.

I hv beeen in the industry for 8 years, QP, jump 4 firms, likely to hop to another firm in less than 1 year.. my current pay is $7.2k with no bonus annually. i think i am underpaid as my uni-mate is earning 7k with min 1 month bonus (this works out to be 7.5k/ month) plus other benefits and allowance. another uni-mate of mind working in a developer firm strictly 9-5 with occassional OT are earning 8k/ month. his annual bonus is min 1-2 months, and potentially reach 4-5 months.. Hence i am moving toward developer the next hop...

Hope the above is beneficial to all current architect.. work with passion! but rmbr that you need to be receiving fair judgement and manage to get work life balance...

Cheers!!!

If money is the most important thing for you in choosing a career, finance is (as of now) the easiest and most direct path towards it. Even more than the professionals (doctors/lawyers). So definitely above that of most Architects.

I was from science stream of one of the top JCs. Quite a number of my mates became doctors. A few lawyers. My grades was not fantastic so I ended up in B&F (local uni). Nevertheless, still very close with some of them. We meet up now & then. Point - My annual pay has been consistently 30-40% higher than the docs/ lawyers. My Doc friends work harder than me, shiftwork and weekends etc. All their mind/energy is fully devoted to their line of work. After med school, most of my doc friends have totally no life. Ask them out for drinks or just to hang out, they will tell me that next day got duty.. have to be responsible and sleep early. On weekends/public holidays, they have to work.

I am in my 30s. Some say that in 40s/50s, doctors/lawyers will overtake bankers in terms of compensation. I beg to differ. Not so easy to become surgeon/consultant. Let's say Docs/Surgeons can earn S$1m a year, most of the department heads / MD or D level in my bank also earn that amount. Plus we have accumulated so much more savings in the early years of our career which we can put into investment.

Banking still the easiest path to pot of gold. Speaking from personal experience.

You must be in back office to only make 30 - 40% more than doctors. Front office is so much higher it's not even comparable.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If money is the most important thing for you in choosing a career, finance is (as of now) the easiest and most direct path towards it. Even more than the professionals (doctors/lawyers). So definitely above that of most Architects.

I was from science stream of one of the top JCs. Quite a number of my mates became doctors. A few lawyers. My grades was not fantastic so I ended up in B&F (local uni). Nevertheless, still very close with some of them. We meet up now & then. Point - My annual pay has been consistently 30-40% higher than the docs/ lawyers. My Doc friends work harder than me, shiftwork and weekends etc. All their mind/energy is fully devoted to their line of work. After med school, most of my doc friends have totally no life. Ask them out for drinks or just to hang out, they will tell me that next day got duty.. have to be responsible and sleep early. On weekends/public holidays, they have to work.

I am in my 30s. Some say that in 40s/50s, doctors/lawyers will overtake bankers in terms of compensation. I beg to differ. Not so easy to become surgeon/consultant. Let's say Docs/Surgeons can earn S$1m a year, most of the department heads / MD or D level in my bank also earn that amount. Plus we have accumulated so much more savings in the early years of our career which we can put into investment.

Banking still the easiest path to pot of gold. Speaking from personal experience.