jobfacts

Architect

Architects — SOC 2020 2451

Architects plan and design the construction and development of buildings and land areas with regard to functional and aesthetic requirements.

Also calledLandscape architectStructural designerFormwork designerProject architectLandscape craftsmanChartered architectand 4 more titles
Typical full-time pay£47,1002025 Provisional
People in the job61,000across the UK
Demand for workersNot high
New adverts a month775↑ 18%on last year · 217th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time architects earn between £37,300 and £55,300 a year.

What full-time architects earn, 2025
£47,100 typical£32,700lowest 10%£37,30025%£55,30075%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£37,300–£55,300)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£32,700
Lowest 20% earn less than£36,400
25%£37,300
Median£47,100
75%£55,300
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Many (23%) of architects work for themselves. These pay figures only cover employees, so they may not reflect what self-employed architects earn.
Typical pay by regionUK median £47,100
London!£49,300
South East!£47,100
West Midlands!£46,400
North West!£43,000
Scotland!£42,600
North East!£38,000
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £47,100
London£49,300 (small sample)
South East£47,100 (small sample)
West Midlands£46,400 (small sample)
North West£43,000 (small sample)
Scotland£42,600 (small sample)
North East£38,000 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £45,900
  • 2024 £47,800
  • 2025 Provisional£47,100
↑ 2.7% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 775 jobs for architects are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as not high.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (3 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026971
Jul 2026822
Jun 2026831
May 2026829
Apr 2026636
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026645
Jan 2026858
Dec 2025459
Nov 2025930
Oct 2025812
Sept 2025736
Aug 2025723
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 20251,019
Apr 2025647
Mar 2025728
Feb 2025789
Jan 2025653
Dec 2024409
Nov 2024529
Oct 2024479
Sept 2024563
Aug 2024589
Jul 2024573
Jun 2024528
May 2024659
Apr 2024674
Mar 2024655
Feb 2024558
Jan 2024809
Dec 2023729
Nov 2023699
Oct 2023723
Sept 2023721
Aug 2023714
Jul 2023769
Jun 20231,199
May 20231,113
Apr 2023949
Mar 20231,082
Feb 20231,143
Jan 20231,265
Dec 20221,079
Nov 20221,205
Oct 20221,089
Sept 20221,135
Aug 20221,122
Jul 20221,168
Jun 20221,191
May 20221,538
Apr 20221,097
Mar 20221,205
Feb 20221,132
Jan 20221,240
Dec 2021969
Nov 20211,018
Oct 20211,078
Sept 20211,105
Aug 20211,032
Jul 20211,279
Jun 20211,096
May 20211,194
Apr 20211,270
Mar 20211,455
Feb 2021833
Jan 2021924
Dec 2020569
Nov 2020705
Oct 2020780
Sept 2020708
Aug 2020582
Jul 2020488
Jun 2020581
May 2020473
Apr 2020688
Mar 20201,220
Feb 20201,385
Jan 20201,329
Dec 2019945
Nov 20191,354
Oct 20191,237
Sept 20191,190
Aug 20191,152
Jul 20191,367
Jun 20191,280
May 20191,198
Apr 2019986
Mar 20191,071
Feb 20191,009
Jan 20191,273
Dec 2018772
Nov 20181,101
Oct 20181,105
Sept 20181,012
Aug 20181,008
Jul 2018943
Jun 2018968
May 2018978
Apr 2018930
Mar 20181,125
Feb 2018986
Jan 20181,099
Dec 2017806
Nov 2017975
Oct 20171,048
Sept 2017879
Aug 20171,022
Jul 2017969
Jun 20171,135
May 20171,171
Apr 20171,222
Mar 20171,201
Feb 20171,101
Jan 20171,261
Is there a shortage of architects?
Not high

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsAbove usual
  • Wage growthUsual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
50%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for architects, chartered architectural technologists, planning officers, surveyors and construction professionals, which includes architects. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London613
Manchester118
Birmingham97
Bristol, City of94
Leeds66
Glasgow City55
Cardiff54
Gloucester47
Nottingham40
Newcastle upon Tyne36
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where architects are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 52 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from United States, Spain, India, ranking it 130th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of architects
n/p
25%!
33%!
24%!
14%!
4.3%!
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–24Not published
25–3425% (small sample)
35–4433% (small sample)
45–5424% (small sample)
55–6414% (small sample)
65+4.3% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent93%
Higher education below degree!0.9%
A levels or equivalent!2.4%
GCSEs or equivalent–
Not published
Other qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent93%
Higher education below degree0.9% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent2.4% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalentNot published
Other qualificationsNot published

Main employers: architectural activities (52%), engineering activities and related technical consultancy (15%), activities of professional membership organisations (7.5%), construction of residential and non-residential buildings (7.5%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
93%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
2
from level 7, including degree apprenticeships
Apprenticeships take
4 to 5 years
typically
Self-employed
23%
of people in the job

Routes in

Architect

You can get into this job through:

University

To become an architect, you'll need to complete Parts 1, 2 and 3 of architectural training.

This is made up of:

  • a degree recognised by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) - Part 1
  • a year of practical work experience
  • a further 2 years' full-time university course like a BArch, Diploma, MArch - Part 2
  • a year of practical training
  • a final qualifying exam - Part 3

A number of universities offer an extra foundation year, which prepares you for study at degree level for Part 1.

You'll need a portfolio of your work when you are interviewed for degree courses. Course providers will want to see examples like hand drawn sketches, photographs and models.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do an Architectural Assistant Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship to start Part 1 training for this role.

You could then move on to complete an Architect Level 7 Integrated Degree Apprenticeship to achieve Parts 2 and 3.

These apprenticeships can take up to 4 years each, and are a mix of workplace learning and academic study at an approved university.

You can find out more about architecture apprenticeships from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Work your way up

If you're working in an architectural practice, you may be able to study on a foundation course and do Parts 1 and 2 of architectural qualifications through RIBA Studio.

You would be mentored in the office throughout your training and be supported to gain the Part 3 qualification to become an architect.

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll need to be registered with the Architects Registration Board
Career tips

RIBA Future Architects offers lots of resources to support architectural students.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Royal Institute of British Architects for training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming an architect from the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Architects Registration Board

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for architect. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Landscape architect

You can get into this job through:

University

You could do a degree that is recognised by the Landscape Institute.

Subjects include:

  • landscape architecture
  • garden design
  • landscape design and technology
  • landscape or urban planning
  • environmental conservation
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More about this route
Work experience

You might find it useful to get some work experience in landscape architecture to help with your course application. Find out ways to get work experience.

Postgraduate course

If you already have a degree in a related subject like architecture, horticulture, geography or ecology, you might be able to do a postgraduate conversion course that is accredited by the Landscape Institute.

Apprenticeship

You could begin your training to become a landscape architect by applying to do a 2-year Landscape Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, with a design company or local authority.

From there, you could go on to do further training to degree level and eventually qualify as a professional landscape architect.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Landscape Institute for professional development opportunities and to make contacts in the industry.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a landscape architect from the Landscape Institute.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for landscape architect. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

2 for this job
Level 7About 5 years

Chartered landscape professional

Leads to
Landscape Institute
Employers may ask for
Typically, an apprentice might be expected to have already achieved Level 3 qualifications e.g. A Levels or a Level 3 apprenticeship in a related discipline…
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • liaises with client and other professionals to establish building type, style, cost limitations and landscaping requirements
  • studies condition and characteristics of site, taking into account drainage, topsoil, trees, rock formations, etc.
  • analyses site survey and advises client on development and construction details and ensures that proposed design blends in with the surrounding area
  • prepares detailed scale drawings and specifications for design and construction and submits these for planning approval
  • monitors construction work in progress to ensure compliance with specifications

Skills

  • advise on building matters
  • analyse problems for opportunities
  • conduct field work
  • consider building constraints in architectural designs
  • create architectural sketches
  • design buildings
  • design open spaces
  • design spatial layout of outdoor areas
  • develop architectural plans
  • draw blueprints
  • execute feasibility study
  • identify customer's needs
  • identify necessary human resources
  • integrate building requirements of clients in the architectural design

Knowledge

  • architectural design
  • architectural theory
  • architecture regulations
  • building codes
  • relationship between buildings, people and the environment
  • urban planning
  • zoning codes
  • architectural conservation

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Creating and designing

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business, media and public service professionals, a group of 32 jobs that includes architects.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 26%about 670,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20352.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.