Also called: Junior Designer
Works under licensed architects to earn the experience hours needed for a license.
You redline drawing sets, build physical and digital models, and tag along on site visits to learn how buildings actually go together. Every few weeks you log hours and study for your next ARE exam.
Paid internship; pay rises sharply after licensure.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 5 years after high school. Architecture student or recent grad logging hours toward the Architectural Experience Program.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Architecture, Architectural Studies.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years).
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI handles much of the drafting and modeling interns used to do, so fewer junior spots; site visits and mentoring still matter.
Classes: AP Calculus, Architectural drafting CTE, Studio art.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-1011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.