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Architectural and Engineering Managers

Typical education: Master's degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $171,270 Median per year · $82.34/hr Most earn $120,810–$262,760

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Solicit project support by conferring with officials or providing information to the public.
  • Assess project feasibility by analyzing technology, resource needs, or market demand.
  • Develop or implement policies, standards, or procedures for engineering and technical work.
  • Perform administrative functions, such as reviewing or writing reports, approving expenditures, enforcing rules, or purchasing of materials or services.
  • Perform administrative functions, such as reviewing or writing reports, approving expenditures, enforcing rules, or purchasing of materials or services.
  • Develop or implement programs to improve sustainability or reduce the environmental impacts of engineering or architecture activities or operations.

Job outlook

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 14,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Engineering services22.1%
  • Management of companies and enterprises6.3%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences5.9%
  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing5.4%
  • Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing4.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 8 to 10 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Master's degreeExperience before this job: 8 to 10 years

This is not an entry-level job. People usually work as engineers or architects for about 8 to 10 years, often after earning a master's degree, before moving into a management role.

  1. Bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, or a related field

    4 years

    You learn the technical foundations and design work that every later step depends on.

  2. Electrical Engineer

    4-6 years

    You work on real projects, earn professional experience, and learn how teams, budgets, and schedules work, which prepares you to lead them.

  3. Master's degree in engineering or engineering management

    1-2 years, often part-time while working

    A master's is the typical education for this role, and it builds the planning and leadership skills managers need.

  4. Architectural and Engineering Manager

    Career goal after about 8-10 years of total experience

    You plan, direct, and coordinate design or engineering teams and projects.

Where it can lead

  1. Director of Engineering

    5-10 years in an engineering manager role of experience first

    You oversee several teams or departments, set long-term technical direction, and manage bigger budgets and more senior leaders.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take algebra, geometry, physics, and calculus if offeredStrong math and science skills are the base for any engineering or architecture degree.
  • Take a drafting or CAD classLearning to draw and model designs on a computer gives you an early taste of the work and a useful skill.
  • Join robotics, science fair, or a math teamThese activities build problem-solving skills and show colleges you enjoy building and designing things.
  • Get a summer or part-time job in a related fieldWorking at a hardware store, a construction crew, or a local shop teaches practical skills and how real projects run.
  • Volunteer to lead a group projectTaking charge of a team early helps you practice the coordination skills managers use every day.

In college

  • Major in engineering or architecture at an accredited programAn accredited degree is the usual entry point and is required for many engineering jobs.
  • Pursue a co-op or internship every summer you canReal project experience is what turns a degree into a first job and sets up your path toward management.
  • Join a student professional society or design teamThese groups offer networking, competitions, and leadership roles that look strong on applications.
  • Take a leadership role in a student organization or teamRunning meetings, assigning tasks, and managing deadlines builds the management skills this career needs.
  • Plan ahead for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and master's optionsPassing the FE exam is an early professional step in many engineering fields, and knowing your graduate options helps you plan the years ahead.

Tips for getting started

  • Pick an engineering or architecture program, and look for co-op or internship options. Hands-on work experience is what employers look for most in this field.
  • Get comfortable leading people early. Lead a student team, a project group, or a club, because this career depends on coordinating others.
  • Keep track of your projects and the results you helped deliver. Strong examples will help you when you apply for jobs and graduate programs.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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