Design & Architecture

What You Could Do

Job roles in the industry are varied, and they can be competitive, depending on the specific area you want to practice in.

While there are potential opportunities to get started in the design field without a degree, most architectural roles will require you to have a bachelor’s and postgraduate study as a minimum.

Here’s a look at some of the top jobs you could pursue:

• Residential Architect: Residential architects work with individual clients to help them design and develop their own homes. When designing a customised house for a client, residential architects need the creative and problem-solving skills to turn an idea into reality, while keeping within budget and creating something that’s functional. Residential architects need to be familiar with local building codes and potential restrictions.
• Commercial Architect: Commercial architects operate in a similar way to residential architects, but they focus on business and commercial properties. This could be anything from office buildings to supermarkets, parking lots to museums or schools. Commercial architects tend to be experts in designing functional and practical buildings that serve a core purpose. Aside from needing excellent design skills, a commercial architect also needs a robust understanding of commercial building codes, safety regulations, and the financials involved in construction.
• Urban Planner: Slightly different to architects but an equally exciting role, urban planners develop and implement plans and policies for the controlled use of urban and rural land. Rather than focusing on individual buildings, urban planners (sometimes referred to as urban designers) focus on the whole landscape of a built environment. They also provide advice and guidance on economic, environmental and social factors affecting land use. They need excellent knowledge of building codes, land regulations and safety legislation to ensure urban spaces are used and developed correctly.
• CAD Technician: Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technicians create electronic design plans for buildings using computer software. CAD technicians work with architects and transform their technical drawings, designs and blueprints into 2D and 3D computer models. These models further aid the development and initial construction of the building.
• Landscape Architect: Architecture doesn’t just involve buildings – it also encompasses outdoor spaces too, and that’s where landscape architects step in. Landscape architects specialise in the design and development of outdoor spaces such as private and public gardens, lawns, parks, and building walkways. They might also be involved in specialised outdoor spaces such as golf courses or holiday resorts. Landscape architects have specialist knowledge in horticulture so they can best advise on the greenery for specific spaces, based on a number of variables.

These job roles are only just scratching the surface! Across each sector of the industry, you might work freelance or as a sole contractor, or you might work for a firm or organisation.

In both instances, many architects have a role to play in securing new clients and building the portfolio of commissions they work on.

Graduate Outcomes & Gender Split

The Graduates Outcome Survey tracks graduate employment across different industry sectors.

Here’s a look at some degrees that could be a great starting point for this industry:

• Architecture and Built Environment Graduates in full-time employment: 67.7%
• Architecture and Built Environment Graduates in employment overall: 82.3%

Keep in mind that this doesn’t account for graduates working part-time and/or who may have continued to higher studies; these are promising percentages!

*Figures from 2020 survey results.

Gender Split

The gender split across the industry depends on the segment of the sector you work within, but overall there is a significantly higher percentage of males working across architecture and design:

• Males: 88%
• Females: 22%

Professional bodies are working to address this imbalance across the sector and promote STEM careers with girls.

Average Salary

Current surveys in the sector indicate the median salaries for full-time roles in this industry as:

• Entry-level/Graduate ArchitectRoles: $49-$58,900
• Experienced Architect Roles: $70-$89,000
• Head Architect Roles: $118-$158,000
• CAD Technician: $81-$90,000

Salaries can be pretty varied, with lower expectations for entry-level roles. Salaries are also determined by several factors, including:

• The segment of the industry you work within.
• Your job title and seniority.
• The amount of experience you have.
• Location, some rural areas may pay less than roles in main cities.

Industry Growth

According to the Architects Accreditation Association of Australia (AACA),  there are an estimated 13,555 businesses in the Australian architectural sector (including sole professionals).

This includes a range of businesses providing architecture-related services as well as registered architectural firms.

Industry growth slowed down between 2008 and 2009, and the sector only began to see an increase in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has directly impacted continued growth, but it is anticipated this will continue to grow between now and 2024.

Industry research group IBIS expects growth in the architecture industry to jump from 0.5% in the past five years to 2.2% in the next five years.

The majority of architects in Australia work in small practices, often as sole traders, and a number also work with State and Local Governments. The highest number of architects are employed by architectural firms across all sectors of the industry.

Qualifications and Entry Pathways

You will need a bachelor degree in architectural design to work as an architect and it’s also common to complete postgraduate studies in the field.

Australia requires a five-year course of post-secondary study as a pre-requisite for architectural registration. This typically takes the form of a three-year bachelor degree followed by an accredited two year Master of Architecture (MArch) degree program.

To be eligible to apply for registration as an architect, you will need to:

• Complete a five year higher education program leading to an accredited Master of Architecture qualification.
• Obtain at least two years of experience working in the industry.
• Pass a three-part competency assessment process – the Architectural Practice Examination – including completing a logbook, a written paper and an interview with current practitioners.

Degree courses you can undertake to begin your career journey into architecture include:

• Bachelor’s in Architectural Design
• Bachelor’s in Architecture and Built Environment
• Bachelor’s in Architectural Engineering
• Bachelor’s in Landscape Design
• Bachelor’s in Urban and Regional Planning

For some pathways, vocational education and training (VET) courses can offer specialised and valuable springboards into some design careers. There may also be opportunities to pursue an apprenticeship for roles in:

• CAD Technology
• Landscape Design or Planning

Pathway options might include:

• Scoring an apprenticeship or traineeship: You can start a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship from Yr 9 and work to gain industry-specific qualifications alongside your certificate of education and work experience.
• Work experience once you leave school: If you leave school at 16, you can apply for work experience and school-leaver programs in entry-level positions and work your way up over time. Many organisations will also support you to gain further professional qualifications. You’ll need a robust skill set and good grades in Maths and English as a minimum.

Requirements will depend on the type of role you want and the company – so make sure you do some research.

Whatever your circumstances, grades or preferred way forward – there’s a qualification pathway that will work for you.

Best Places to Study

Where you choose to study will be dependent on a range of factors, but some universities are rated higher than others for specific subjects.

There are 18 Australian universities currently accredited to offer the MArch degree:

• Bond University
• Curtin University
• Deakin University
• Griffith University
• Monash University
• Qld University of Technology
• RMIT University
• University of Adelaide
• University of Canberra
• University of Melbourne
• University of Newcastle
• University of New South Wales
• University of Queensland
• University of South Australia
• University of Sydney
• University of Tasmania
• University of Technology Sydney
• University of Western Australia

Where to Learn More

You can find out more about different design and architecture pathways through professional bodies and organisations advocating for careers in the sector.

Some good places to start include:

• Architects Accreditation Council of Australia
• Association of Consulting Architects
• Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia
• Government Architects Network of Australia

And many more!

Each state will also have several professional organisations that can help you learn more about the industry, network, and develop your career.