Architect in 1819: The Beaux-Arts system takes shape

What is the difference between an architect and a civil engineer? An architect designs a building's form, layout, materials and the experience of the people who use it, and carries legal responsibility for the overall design. A civil engineer designs the structural, transport or infrastructure systems that make a design physically stand up or function. On most buildings, engineer and architect work as partners, with the architect usually leading the client relationship.

Do you need a license to call yourself an architect? In most jurisdictions, yes — "architect" is a legally protected title, not just a job description. Someone can design buildings and work in a firm for years as a designer or project architect without being licensed, but only a registered architect can legally stamp construction drawings, and using the title without registration can carry fines or even count as a criminal offence.

It varies enormously by country, seniority and firm size. The median pay for an architect in the United States was $96,690 a year in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ranging from around $60,000 for the newest licensees to over $159,000 for the most experienced. Owners and partners of successful firms can earn considerably more; salaried architects elsewhere typically earn solid middle-class wages.