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Architectural Technology

Types of Degrees Architectural Technology Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Architectural Technology can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	95
Associate’s Degree	550
Bachelor’s Degree	97
Master’s Degree	531

What Architectural Technology Majors Need to Know

Programs in Architectural Technology emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Architectural Technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Architectural Technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Design — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 6.0 / 7.
• Building and Construction — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Architectural Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Complex Problem Solving — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Systems Analysis — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Active Learning — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Architectural Technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Visualization — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Architectural Technology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.8 / 7
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment	4.6 / 7
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.9 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.8 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.8 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.7 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.7 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Architectural Technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
McNeel Rhinoceros 3D	Graphics or photo imaging software	✓
ARCOM Masterspec	Data base user interface and query software	—
Boundary survey software	Map creation software	—
Scanning software	Optical character reader OCR or scanning software	—
Bill of materials software	Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software	—
Adobe LiveMotion	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Document management system software	Document management software	—
Adobe After Effects	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Landscape modeling software	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Computer aided design and drafting CADD software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Motion graphics software	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Architectural Technology graduates include:

• Civil Site Design Engineer
• Gas Drafter
• Architectural Designer
• Structural Draftsman
• Civil Structural Designer
• Structural Design Engineer
• Drafter
• CAD Drafter (Computer Aided Design Drafter)
• Directional Survey Drafter
• BIM Modeler (Building Information Modeling Modeler)
• Plumbing Drafter
• Draftsperson
• Truss Designer
• Architecture Technician
• Structural Drafter

Who Is Earning a Degree in Architectural Technology?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 41.8% women and 58.2% men among Architectural Technology graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	532	41.8%
Men	741	58.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Architectural Technology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	306	24.0%
Asian	163	12.8%
Hispanic or Latino	616	48.4%
Black or African American	36	2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native	3	0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	3	0.2%
Two or More Races	33	2.6%
Race Unknown	56	4.4%
International Students	57	4.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Architectural Technology Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Architectural Technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$55,693
4 years	$64,053
5 years	$73,273

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $73,273 — roughly 32% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Architectural Technology Programs

Online study is tracked by IPEDS for Architectural Technology. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	2	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Architectural Technology Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Architectural Technology graduates earn a median of $64,053 four years after completion — roughly 69% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Architectural Sciences and Technology	04.09
Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology	04.0902
Architectural Sciences and Technology, Other	04.0999

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.