RICH ARCHITECTS???

[Mel_123]

Hey,
I was talking to an Architect that works with my mom because I want to get into Architecture myself. He said that there isn't a lot of money in the buisness. Is that true even for famous ones like Frank lloyd Wright or present Architects. I know you have to start somewhere and your not gonna make a lot when you start but you make your way up to the "rich" point?

[Architorture]

there are plenty of threads talking about this subject, just look around

[paulmann]

as

[DesignTheatre]

Mel123, please dont become an architect. These is no money in it. all architects are in the pits and just waiting to die. Hope this dissuades you. Hope this releases the profession from the cluches of the likes of you who would be just another client's pet boy. Sorry for taking out my frustration on you. i know you might not understand this so early, but i am sure there is going to be a discussion on this.
You please understand the right reasons before you wanna be an architect, or just quit. See if you fit into the mould before you jump. Dont make architecture a business. It is a profession.

[ArchitectPrincess]

When anyone asks me what I'm studying in school and I say architecture all I either here is "Damn, that sucks. Are you always in studio" and "Wow, you're gonna be rich". Its funny how this stereotype is so wrong. As any of us know, to be a student, practitioner, or anything related to architecture, you know you love what you do-or you wouldn't be doing it and you would want to kill yourself. We also know that you have to love what you are studying or you will end up unhappy. We all chose to do what we do-architecture-because that is what will make us happy. Not for the money, not for the fame, not for the recognition (although its not a bad thing). To chose to study architecture, to study anything for that matter, based on how much you make is ridiculous. All that will get you will be waking up when you're 50, probably alone, wondering why you hate your life. You might own an island, but if you want to throw yourself off that island at any moment, whats the point. To answer your question-no it will not make you rich, almost all architects die poor, but most of them I can bet die at least satisfied that they have made a difference in our world and are atleast happy.

[keshav_architect]

I find most of what AP has said true, and would like to add that In my opinion, how well and how soon you become successful in the profession, depends on how early during your education years you prepare yourself to face the ground realities; by means of any thing, internships, learning new design CAD softwares.

[stig]

You just have to look at the job adds in the Architecture journals to see that architects are not well paid! You can compare the estate agents fees to the architects fees - and they are not that far apart! But compare the amount of time designing, detailing, years studying and years of experience, not to mention the PI insurance, registration fees etc

It is easy to get fooled into thinking that you can change the world through architecture - who tells you this? probably your lecturers who are trying to get more people to study architecture. Have a look at vernacular architecture, there are some amazing communities created probably because there has been no architect involved!

The only architect I can think of who has changed lives is Le Corbusier! but was that for the better?

I don't know what anybody else finds, but I find I spend probably 2% of my time designing the rest is mundane jobs like schedules, minutes of meetings, travelling to sites, site meetings etc. I have tried, but I just can't see how that can be more interesting than any other job! What is worse is that as being poorly paid I am going to have to do it until I drop as I do not earn enough to save for retirement! At that time inevitably I will be watching the bulldozers demolishing some of my early projects for new 'life changing' projects - will I be satisfied that I have made a difference - I doubt it!

[stig]

You just have to look at the job adds in the Architecture journals to see that architects are not well paid! You can compare the estate agents fees to the architects fees - and they are not that far apart! But compare the amount of time designing, detailing, years studying and years of experience, not to mention the PI insurance, registration fees etc

It is easy to get fooled into thinking that you can change the world through architecture - who tells you this? probably your lecturers who are trying to get more people to study architecture. Have a look at vernacular architecture, there are some amazing communities created probably because there has been no architect involved!

The only architect I can think of who has changed lives is Le Corbusier! but was that for the better?

I don't know what anybody else finds, but I find I spend probably 2% of my time designing the rest is mundane jobs like schedules, minutes of meetings, travelling to sites, site meetings etc. I have tried, but I just can't see how that can be more interesting than any other job! What is worse is that as being poorly paid I am going to have to do it until I drop as I do not earn enough to save for retirement! At that time inevitably I will be watching the bulldozers demolishing some of my early projects for new 'life changing' projects - will I be satisfied that I have made a difference - I doubt it!

[stig]

You just have to look at the job adds in the Architecture journals to see that architects are not well paid! You can compare the estate agents fees to the architects fees - and they are not that far apart! But compare the amount of time designing, detailing, years studying and years of experience, not to mention the PI insurance, registration fees etc

It is easy to get fooled into thinking that you can change the world through architecture - who tells you this? probably your lecturers who are trying to get more people to study architecture. Have a look at vernacular architecture, there are some amazing communities created probably because there has been no architect involved!

The only architect I can think of who has changed lives is Le Corbusier! but was that for the better?

I don't know what anybody else finds, but I find I spend probably 2% of my time designing the rest is mundane jobs like schedules, minutes of meetings, travelling to sites, site meetings etc. I have tried, but I just can't see how that can be more interesting than any other job! What is worse is that as being poorly paid I am going to have to do it until I drop as I do not earn enough to save for retirement! At that time inevitably I will be watching the bulldozers demolishing some of my early projects for new 'life changing' projects - will I be satisfied that I have made a difference - I doubt it!

[andrekaos]

[Landy]

ha, ha , ha...
At this point of life my conclusion is that being rich is a state of mind or a construct in one's imagination.

here is my moto or murphy's law:
1-if you work in a building designed by john Doe - that is indicative of misfortune
2-if you work for a guy that developes a phylosophy that architecture is not for the money- is undermining your merits
3-if you earn an extraordinary sum of money and you do not have an idea of places to visit like the Gugenheim, NY etc - that is a person with a limited cultural scope
4-if you make huge sums of money and fall on bounds of vice you fall into mysery
5- In the end richness entails a achieving goals and living on the bubble of those things in life that make you happy. **Homobulla by Holocombe

[AsFx]

well, I think if someone starts to study architecture just with the goal or motivation to get rich he's on the wrong way....

first, because architects obviously do not earn very much and second because if you're an architect you're not a simple craftsman - you're an artist, a designer!
There's always a philosophy behind your work! It's to create room for people. You have an impact on people`s life (e.g. when you design their residencial building). It's the task of an architect to fulfill the demands of their clients.
And furthermore you express yourself in your works.
Just imagine your feelings when you stand in front of an house you created, which was planned by your pencil, which consists of your ideas. It's like a little - long-life - monument you built.
So, if you want to start studying architecture, you're motivation should be the creative aspect, well perhaps also to do something extraordinary.
But please, don't start with the goal to get rich!

greets, alex

[The Wright Spirit]

There used to be good money in the architectural profession but with all the computer technology stuff it has ruined the profession & it took a lot of the fun out of it. When hand labor was in use & ful force it was much more rewarding. This is just IMHO.

[TLWalkerAIA]

Architecture is frozen music
and also frozen salary;

there is little compensation if you are an employee never enough to save money.

In most countries architecture is not regulated with a pricing schedule and therefore the business competition is controled by price not quality.

Only a snmall number will acquire world wide prominance or wealth. If you become an architect you should expect to be frustrated your entire career, you see, you can rarely work your way into a partnership in an established firm the way the lawyer can.

Live at mom and Dads house until you get licensed and save every dollar (it still will not be enough and the banks will not loan you any money to start your practice.)

Become self employed as soon as you can after you get licensed. Take anything you can get. Your odds are slightly better than what you get at a cassino in Las Vegas.

If you still want to be and architect see next line:
If yes go to top and read it again it is the truth.

If no give thought to being an attorney or a doctor, both curriculums are easier anyway.

TLW

[Landy]

Terry you have earned my simpathy, I agree with you 100% that living with parents through licensure is the best way. However their tolerance has gone thin. I am in the process of the gong ho strategy, that up todate is to very little avail.

pd.
1-I do need strong support in this particular aspect of the career; many architects have proven reluctant to help me achieve my licensure goal
2-being gong-ho does not pay!!!
3-e-mail the following address to support my ARE
miguellox@state.gov