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Architectural Engineering

Instructional content is defined in code 14.0401.

Types of Degrees Architectural Engineering Majors Are Earning

Those studying Architectural Engineering may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	902
Master’s Degree	259
Doctor’s Degree	22

What Architectural Engineering Majors Need to Know

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

Knowledge Areas

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

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.7 / 7.
• Design — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.

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

Skills

Skills built by a Architectural Engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.

Abilities

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

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Common Job Activities

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

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.2 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.0 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Architectural Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Computer aided design CAD software	Computer aided design CAD software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Architectural Engineering graduates include:

• Lecturer
• University Faculty Member
• College Faculty Member
• Professor
• Assistant Professor
• Adjunct Professor
• Adjunct Instructor
• Associate Professor
• College Professor
• Instructor
• Hydraulics Teacher
• Aeronautical Engineering Teacher
• Electrical Engineering Teacher
• Chemical Engineering Professor
• Environmental Engineering Professor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Architectural Engineering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	32.3%
Bachelor’s degree	27.8%
Master’s degree	11.6%
Post-doctoral training	7.1%
Post-master’s certificate	6.6%
First professional degree	3.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.6%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.1%
Postsecondary certificate	1.9%
Some college courses	1.4%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.6%
Less than a high school diploma	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Architectural Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 63.1% of Architectural Engineering degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	436	36.9%
Men	747	63.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	778	65.8%
Asian	62	5.2%
Hispanic or Latino	140	11.8%
Black or African American	58	4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native	2	0.2%
Two or More Races	49	4.1%
Race Unknown	17	1.4%
International Students	77	6.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Architectural Engineering Graduates Earn?

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

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$76,177
4 years	$83,733
5 years	$94,005

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $94,005 — roughly 23% above the 1-year mark.

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

Online Architectural Engineering Programs

Online study is tracked by IPEDS for Architectural Engineering. 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
Master’s	1	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 Engineering Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Architectural Engineering graduates earn a median of $83,733 four years after completion — roughly 120% 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	Annual Degrees Awarded
Engineering	197,615
Mechanical Engineering	42,939
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	26,760
Civil Engineering	20,005
Computer Engineering	19,986
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	13,914
Engineering, General	13,411
Chemical Engineering	10,939
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	9,596
Industrial Engineering	8,533
Systems Engineering	3,956
Engineering, Other	3,529

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.