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My 2 cents
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Posted: Wed Nov 12th, 2008 04:30 pm |
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1988-1996: Hand drafting house plans for residential builder Detroit area, no experience, attending college, $4.50/hr to $12/hr, no health care, bonuses (maybe). 
1997-2003: Earned degree, worked for various small offices around Detroit area, $38k - $46k, health care, 401k, vacation & bonuses. 
2003-2006: Worked for small office in Cleveland area, $48k, health care, 401k, vacation & bonuses. 
2006-now: Earned registration and LEED AP, work for large office in Cleveland area, $49k, health care, 401k, vacation & bonuses. Also teach and have book(s), +$80k. Total about $130k. 
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Alright
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| Location: | A R C H I T E C T !!!, Houston, Texas USA |
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Posted: Wed Nov 12th, 2008 06:24 pm |
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BlewBe wrote: 2006- Current: 30k + 2k bonus + 5 days vacation + no benefits. medium firm, medium town. I avearage 45 hours a week, peeking at 66 hours a week.
It's all for the experience and education - right????
Leave immediately. Run like the wind.
No benefits!?!? Don't let them get away with this. Leave so that they are either forced to compensate better, or they'll go out of business because they're inefficient (thus causing the better, more-efficient firms to get more jobs).
- Alright
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are4life
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| Location: | Ontario Canada |
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Posted: Sun Nov 16th, 2008 11:07 am |
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I've been working at the same firm since graduating with my M.Arch in 2005. Last year I completed my LEED AP. My current salary is $71 000 before overtime. My starting salary three years ago was $33 000. I have no benefits with the exception of professional fees and courses.
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xcentric
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Posted: Mon Nov 17th, 2008 06:12 pm |
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are4life wrote: I've been working at the same firm since graduating with my M.Arch in 2005. Last year I completed my LEED AP. My current salary is $71 000 before overtime. My starting salary three years ago was $33 000. I have no benefits with the exception of professional fees and courses.
Wow. That's a huge jump in salary for working at the same firm. Two questions come to mind:
1. Are those US or canadian dollars?
2. What did you do to get that kind of raise? LEED AP alone wouldn't do it. Was there a change in job description/responsibilities. Did you ask, or was it just given to you?
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Alright
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Posted: Mon Nov 17th, 2008 06:19 pm |
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Keep in mind he doesn't have benefits.
Benefits (medical, dental, vision, retirement) should run between $5K-$8K per year or so.
It's all about total compensation, not salary.
- Alright
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xcentric
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Posted: Mon Nov 17th, 2008 06:29 pm |
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Alright wrote: Keep in mind he doesn't have benefits.
Benefits (medical, dental, vision, retirement) should run between $5K-$8K per year or so.
He's also in Canada, so that adds another question: How many of those benefits are provided by the government?
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are4life
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| Location: | Ontario Canada |
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Posted: Mon Nov 17th, 2008 08:20 pm |
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xcentric wrote: are4life wrote: I've been working at the same firm since graduating with my M.Arch in 2005. Last year I completed my LEED AP. My current salary is $71 000 before overtime. My starting salary three years ago was $33 000. I have no benefits with the exception of professional fees and courses.
Wow. That's a huge jump in salary for working at the same firm. Two questions come to mind:
1. Are those US or canadian dollars?
2. What did you do to get that kind of raise? LEED AP alone wouldn't do it. Was there a change in job description/responsibilities. Did you ask, or was it just given to you?
The salary is in Canadian dollars.
Our office is small so I have had a lot of direct contact with the principals. They are very keen on investing in the development of their staff and be competitive as employers. Our employement contracts stipulate biannual evaluations, which keeps me constantly motivated. At my evaluations, I have always stated my accomplishments, growth and my own assessment of my economic worth to the office at those meetings (they don't always agree with me...). I also take that as an oppurtunity to voice where i think we are doing well and where we can do better as a firm and to discuss the direction of the firm and my evolving role in it.
I work whatever overtime is required so i'm working about 50 hours a week on average and will work 70-80 hr weeks in snap if required (Overtime is paid but at 1:1, no multiplier like some companies). I was the first LEED AP at our office, which is valuable for proposals.
Responsibilities have gone up as one should expect over three years. I now coordinate a few projects during the design phases and spend some time with clients. I'm finding I don't get enough construction documentation and administration experience as I would like. As a result, one of the principals has arranged for me to run one of our smaller projects through from start to finish under his guidance (his design of course!).
The jump hasn't been all at once. It's been a steady climb - 33k - 42k - 58k - 71k.
Medical Care is covered by the government. I don't get any retirment/pension benefit, dental, vision, or life/disability insurance. There is an intention to add benefits once the office grows to 15-20 people. In the meantime I buy life and disability insurance privately.
Last edited on Mon Nov 17th, 2008 08:22 pm by are4life
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Leifikins
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| Location: | A R C H % # ! @ %, New Jersey USA |
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Posted: Fri Dec 5th, 2008 04:49 pm |
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Once you get your license, in NYC you should get at least more than $72k, but economy's bad. Also add benefits, 401k etc.
The more skills you have -also, the more pay you should ask for.
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kristinann
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Posted: Mon Dec 8th, 2008 05:04 am |
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Greater NY/NJ Area
B.Arch - 2005
Plan on becoming licensed in the next 6-12 months and take the LEED exam as well.
Job 1: Junior Architect: 38.5K plus: medical, dental, 401K, overtime pay
Job 2: Junior Architect/Designer: 43.5K - 45K plus: medical, dental, 401K, summer hours (beauty of NYC)
Job 3: (laid off due to economy, otherwise would have stayed)
Project Manager (small projects) - 43K plus: medical, dental
Job 4: Architect/Planner - (new position, as of recent)
48K plus: medical and dental covered 98%, 15 days vacation, 12 sick days, 2 personal days, 10 holidays, 40 hour work week, 401K, tuition reimbursement
Last edited on Mon Dec 8th, 2008 05:04 am by kristinann
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ciao.cali
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| Location: | Los Angeles, California USA |
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Posted: Mon Dec 8th, 2008 06:15 am |
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Let's see if I can remember back this far....
I think it's also helpful to put a location in order to determine why some saleries are higher because of cost of living.
Job 1 - '97 Intern Architect (part-time while in school) - $10/hr (small town CA)
Job 2 - 98'-00' & 01'-02' Cad drafing for a non-architecture firm (part-time also while in school) - $11-13/hr (small town CA)
Job 3 - 00'-01' small historic preservation architecture firm - $13/hr no taxes taken out. it was sort of a "scholership" (washington DC)
Job 4 - 02'-05' post B. Arch, a mid-size firm (full-time) - $33K (small town CA)
Job 5 - 05'-06' while studying for M.Arch II - grad school overseas (part-time teaching) - $5K/semester stipend (Italy)
Job 6 - 06'-present, post graduate degree, close to getting licensed (full-time in LARGE firm) - $62K (Los Angeles)
job 6 also has good benefits: 401K (employer matching), ESOP, Medical, Dental, Vision, Flex Spending, 15 days paid PTO a year, 6 days paid sick leave
so, as you can see it was quite a jump from pre to post grad school. it also has a lot to do with location and timing. and of course luck. we are the only firm I know that is hiring right now.
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Pablo
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| Joined: | Tue Nov 18th, 2008 |
| Location: | Austin, Texas USA |
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Posted: Mon Dec 8th, 2008 08:55 pm |
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Self Employed.. (DBA 1995, moolighted until '00)
- BArch, 1991
- Registered Interior Designer, 1995
- Taking ARE, since '03 (geeezz, has it been that long??)
- LEED AP, 2008
- Austin, TX for all figures
- Highest Salary as an Intern = $42.5k, 1999
Here are my gross sales/take home as self employed:
'01-'06 ~$45-$65k gross (Avg. $22-$29k take home)
'07 - $88k gross ($54k net)
'08 - $92k gross ($67k net)
It took a few years to build up a clientele and to buy equipment, software, etc. Now I am focusing my practice and trying to grow the business in a variety of areas. 2009 looks promising, but lets hope the economy does not flat line.
+pablo
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PGH-STEELERS
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Posted: Tue Dec 9th, 2008 02:07 pm |
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| MArch 1999. National firm DC metro area 97K + health, life, 401K and 21 PTO
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jay boogs
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Posted: Tue Dec 9th, 2008 09:27 pm |
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Not much to list since I'm just starting out. (All figures are dollars in NY)
-BArch 2003-2008
-Job 1- Dec. 2005-August 2008: "Intern" [started at] $15/hr [ended at]19/hr. 2.5 years p/t while finishing my BArch. No benefits. Time and a half for O/T. NYC, Very Very Large Multidisciplinary Firm (Sucked b/c of cost of living, 1.5hr commute each way & no f/t position after graduating. Offered 38k p/t w/ no benefits or be laid off. I was forced to quit.)
-Job 2 - August of 2008 - Current: "Junior Architect" f/t $45k, 2-5k bonus/yr, full benefits, Many expenses paid for. 14 days vacation, 5 sick days. 42-45hrs typical work week. Max around 52-53hrs. No commute. 1 block from house. Westchester, Medium Multidisciplinary Firm
Taking LEED NC next week to become LEED AP.
JWS est. 1985<
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bs79638
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Posted: Tue Dec 9th, 2008 09:34 pm |
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Will you get a raise after you earn AP status?
I'm rooting for you jay boogs! Good Luck!!!
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jay boogs
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Posted: Tue Dec 9th, 2008 10:16 pm |
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bs79638 wrote: Will you get a raise after you earn AP status?
I'm rooting for you jay boogs! Good Luck!!!
Thank you. I appreciate the kind words.
I'm really not expecting a raise since, as I mentioned above, I've only been working at my newest job (job2) since the end of August (4months). Upon being hired and being so young, the partners were skeptical about what I was capable of doing and if I was going to be an asset or liability. I am a very focused individual so I proved myself easily. So much so that I've already been given a significant raise to take affect Jan 1st + a holiday bonus for my hard work which completely came out of nowhere (All this is what makes me think less of a raise after becoming a LEED AP).
I believe me becoming LEED AP will help me in other ways though. I have always been interested in environmentally conscious design and this will show that dedication. Plus my firm slowly but steadily is gaining LEED projects. With these older Partners here, almost none are LEED certified (I think 1 might be out of 8) and they are not so interested or knowledgeable on the subject at all. Helping them will only boost my experience and help me make a name for myself in this firm. I have not mentioned me even taking the Exam yet. I will once I pass and go from there. 
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Alright
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Posted: Wed Dec 10th, 2008 06:32 am |
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PGH-STEELERS wrote: MArch 1999. National firm DC metro area 97K + health, life, 401K and 21 PTO
Yeah but your boss doesn't pay you, right?
- Alright
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PGH-STEELERS
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Posted: Wed Dec 17th, 2008 03:18 am |
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| The boss pay , why you think my boss doesn`t pay me? lol please do not give my firm ideas.. Thank god its an A/E firm I survived the second round of lay off so we will see. Last edited on Wed Dec 17th, 2008 03:19 am by PGH-STEELERS
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Alright
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Posted: Thu Dec 18th, 2008 11:09 pm |
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I thought you were the guy who said your old boss couldn't pay you because he couldn't collect a fee? Was that not you? My mistake.
- Alright
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alora
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Posted: Tue Dec 23rd, 2008 09:30 pm |
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During/after high school:
1997-2000: Architectural firm - Drafter/Job Captain ($25K - $30K; retail/high-end residential)
2000-2003: Self-employed ($60K - $90K; high-end residential)
2003-2008: Architectural/G.C. firm - Managing Associate/Designer ($50K; commercial/medical/warehousing)
**Started ARE in 01/2008**
2008-pres: Arch/Eng firm - Project Manager ($50K; facilities/solar industry/pharmaceutical industry)
**last exam LF 12/30/08**
I still keep my own business active - but it's really only 2-3 projects a year as they're high-end residential, and my current firm doesn't want to take on residential projects.
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King
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Posted: Tue Dec 23rd, 2008 11:47 pm |
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alora wrote: During/after high school:
1997-2000: Architectural firm - Drafter/Job Captain ($25K - $30K; retail/high-end residential)
2000-2003: Self-employed ($60K - $90K; high-end residential)
2003-2008: Architectural/G.C. firm - Managing Associate/Designer ($50K; commercial/medical/warehousing)
**Started ARE in 01/2008**
2008-pres: Arch/Eng firm - Project Manager ($50K; facilities/solar industry/pharmaceutical industry)
**last exam LF 12/30/08**
I still keep my own business active - but it's really only 2-3 projects a year as they're high-end residential, and my current firm doesn't want to take on residential projects.
Wow, what happened in 2003? Why did u change from a 60-90k job to a 50k one?
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polemicist
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Posted: Wed Dec 24th, 2008 05:08 am |
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https://secure.salary.com/salaryreport/layoutscripts/srpl_overview.asp?r=salhom_dblpsrlnk_psr
Salary.com free salary report. Leave CC info blank as the whole thing costs $0.00.
Says 15+ years in Southern Cal, Architect V is worth $79K-$85K.
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alora
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| Location: | Tucson, Arizona USA |
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Posted: Wed Dec 24th, 2008 05:55 am |
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King wrote:
Wow, what happened in 2003? Why did u change from a 60-90k job to a 50k one?
2 reasons: Licensing & being burned out.
Arizona allows individuals to become architects through the experience route as an option (as opposed to having a degree). The requirement is that one needs to be working under the direct supervision of a registered architect for a minimum of 8 years. I really wanted to get licensed and, therefore, needed to find an architect to continue my experience under.
Also, I just got plain tired of taking care of the finances of my business in addition to design/drafting. I ended up working 60-80 hour work weeks. With my current position, I have plenty of spare time to do 2-3 projects a year making an extra $40K-$60K a year (before taxes). So, that makes up the difference.
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