How to hire architects, except landscape and naval
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Conduct periodic on-site observations of construction work to monitor compliance with plans. • Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures. • Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction. • Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs. • Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings. • Plan or design structures such as residences, office buildings, theatres, factories, or other structural properties in accordance with environmental, safety, or other regulations. • Prepare contract documents for building contractors. • Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong critical thinking, reading comprehension, speaking, active listening, monitoring and writing skills • Working knowledge of design, building and construction, engineering and technology and customer and personal service • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $47.73 an hour ($99,280 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for architects, except landscape and naval
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to conduct periodic on-site observations of construction work to monitor compliance with plans. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What architects, except landscape and naval do
- Conduct periodic on-site observations of construction work to monitor compliance with plans.
- Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
- Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
- Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
- Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
- Plan or design structures such as residences, office buildings, theatres, factories, or other structural properties in accordance with environmental, safety, or other regulations.
- Prepare contract documents for building contractors.
- Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for architects, except landscape and naval
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Training on the job: Internship/residency (BLS)
- Job outlook: +4.3% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 6,900 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay architects, except landscape and naval
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $117,330 |
| Maryland | $114,550 |
| California | $108,540 |
| Rhode Island | $105,160 |
| Connecticut | $103,540 |
| Maine | $78,600 |
| Arkansas | $78,190 |
| New Mexico | $77,720 |
See architects, except landscape and naval pay in every state
Related hiring guides
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: 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. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.