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Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeLower pressure

What they do

Teach courses in architecture and architectural design, such as architectural environmental design, interior architecture/design, and landscape architecture. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.

Lower 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 $96,870 Median per year Most earn $58,430–$159,030

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
  • Participate in campus and community events.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 700 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

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools91.4%
  • Junior colleges8.1%

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

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

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

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not an entry-level job. Most people first earn an architecture degree, work as a licensed architect for a few years, and then move into teaching, so the full path usually takes 10 or more years after high school. Teaching roles often ask for a master's or doctoral degree, and some teach part-time while still practicing.

  1. Bachelor's degree in architecture

    4-5 years

    You learn design studios, building science, history, and drawing or modeling, which form the base for everything that follows.

  2. Master of Architecture

    2-3 years

    This professional degree deepens your design skills and usually qualifies you to sit for licensing exams, which is needed to practice as an architect.

  3. Architect

    2-4 years

    Working in an architecture firm while you complete licensing requirements builds the real-world experience that teaching programs value.

  4. Architecture Teacher, Postsecondary

    Ongoing

    Teaching design studios and courses, often alongside research or practice, is the final step, and many positions prefer a doctorate or professional degree.

Where it can lead

  1. Assistant Professor of Architecture

    3-6 years of experience first

    After earning tenure-track experience, you take on more responsibility for research, publishing, and curriculum decisions.

  2. Associate or Full Professor of Architecture

    5-10 years of experience first

    Promotion comes with a stronger record of published research or design work, more mentoring of students, and leadership on committees.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take drafting, art, and geometry classesDrawing, spatial thinking, and math are the core skills architecture programs expect you to bring.
  • Join a design, art, or robotics clubWorking on group projects builds creativity and teamwork, and it gives you things to show in a portfolio.
  • Learn basic CAD or 3D modeling softwareMany free or school-provided tools let you practice the same kinds of drawings architects make.
  • Visit local buildings and ask an architect questionsSeeing how buildings are designed and talking with a working professional helps you decide if this field fits you.
  • Build a simple portfolio of sketches and modelsA portfolio is what architecture schools review when you apply, so starting early helps.

In college

  • Major in architecture or a related design fieldA professional architecture degree is the usual starting point for becoming an architect and later a teacher.
  • Get a summer or part-time job at an architecture or design firmEven drafting or model-making experience shows real-world exposure and helps you build professional contacts.
  • Join the student architecture or design organization on campusClubs like these offer design competitions, lectures, and chances to meet faculty and practicing architects.
  • Work as a teaching assistant or peer tutor in design or drafting coursesHelping other students explain design ideas gives you early teaching experience that matters for this career.
  • Take courses in building science, history, and writingStrong research and writing skills are important for the research and teaching parts of this career.

Tips for getting started

  • Keep your design portfolio strong from the start, since teaching hiring committees look closely at your work and your ability to explain it.
  • Gain licensed practice experience in an architecture firm, because hands-on professional work is a major credential for architecture teaching jobs.
  • Try teaching or mentoring early, such as tutoring classmates or leading a design review, to see whether you enjoy explaining ideas to others.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

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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