Education:
46%
Bachelor's Degree
27%
Master's Degree
Architectural or Engineering Manager
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Job Outlook:
As fast as average
Education:
Bachelor's degree
Salary
High:
$221,550.00
Average:
$163,310.00
Hourly
Average:
$78.52
What they do:
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
On the job, you would:
- Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in architecture or engineering projects.
- Direct, review, or approve project design changes.
- Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications.
Important Qualities
Analytical skills. Architectural and engineering managers evaluate information to solve problems.
Communication skills. Architectural and engineering managers must effectively convey information and expectations related to projects.
Interpersonal skills. Architectural and engineering managers must be able to collaborate with other staff to meet deadlines and achieve goals.
Leadership skills. Architectural and engineering managers lead teams, which requires an ability to organize, direct, and motivate others.
Math skills. Architectural and engineering managers use calculus and other mathematics to develop new products and processes.
Organizational skills. Architectural and engineering managers keep track of many workers, schedules, and budgets simultaneously.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
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94% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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93% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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91% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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89% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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84% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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81% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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77% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. | |
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77% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. | |
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76% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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75% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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74% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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74% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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74% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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73% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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59% | Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. | |
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57% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
100% | Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law. | |
|
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61% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. | |
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61% | Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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83% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
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83% | Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
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83% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. | |
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72% | Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. | |
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67% | Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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81% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
|
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78% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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78% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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75% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |
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72% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |
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72% | Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem. | |
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72% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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72% | Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |
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72% | Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). | |
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69% | Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). | |
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69% | Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |
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69% | Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. | |
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69% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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69% | Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. | |
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66% | Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. | |
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60% | Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly. | |
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56% | Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance. | |
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56% | Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. | |
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53% | Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. | |
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53% | Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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63% | Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. | |
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61% | Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. | |
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61% | Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. | |
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61% | Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. | |
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61% | Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems. | |
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59% | Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. | |
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59% | Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. | |
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57% | Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. | |
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57% | Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. | |
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57% | Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively. | |
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57% | Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others. | |
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55% | Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. | |
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55% | Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. | |
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55% | Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences. | |
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54% | Instructing - Teaching others how to do something. | |
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54% | Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior. | |
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52% | Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. | |
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52% | Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Confer with organizational members to accomplish work activities.
Direct facility maintenance or repair activities.
Communicate organizational information to customers or other stakeholders.
Negotiate project specifications.
Manage construction activities.
Manage construction activities.
Implement organizational process or policy changes.
Develop sustainable organizational policies or practices.
Analyze impact of legal or regulatory changes.
Evaluate environmental impact of operational or development activities.
Identify environmental concerns.
Manage construction activities.
Analyze data to determine project feasibility.
Manage operations, research, or logistics projects.
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
Prepare operational budgets.
Analyze data to determine project feasibility.
Estimate demand for products or services.
Analyze market research data.
Manage human resources activities.
Approve expenditures.
Implement organizational process or policy changes.
Develop organizational policies or programs.
Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
Approve expenditures.
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.
Develop organizational goals or objectives.
Communicate with government agencies.
Present information to the public.
Promote products, services, or programs.
Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
Manage construction activities.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
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100% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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98% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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97% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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97% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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89% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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88% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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88% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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88% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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80% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
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80% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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80% | Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers? | |
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79% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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75% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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75% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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74% | Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting? | |
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70% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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62% | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? | |
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60% | Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos? | |
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60% | Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures? | |
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57% | Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job? | |
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56% | Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? | |
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52% | Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? | |
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51% | Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? | |
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51% | Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable? | |
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92% | Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
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93% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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91% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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89% | Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. | |
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89% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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87% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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86% | Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. | |
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86% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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83% | Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used. | |
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82% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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82% | Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. | |
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81% | Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
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80% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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79% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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76% | Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. | |
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76% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
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72% | Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. | |
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72% | Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. | |
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70% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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70% | Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. | |
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69% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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69% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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66% | Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. | |
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65% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
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64% | Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. | |
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63% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
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62% | Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. | |
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60% | Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. |
What Architectural and Engineering Managers Do
Architectural and engineering managers assign workers specific parts of a project to carry out.
Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in the fields of architecture and engineering.
Duties
Architectural and engineering managers typically do the following:
- Make detailed plans to research and develop products, processes, or designs
- Determine staff, training, and equipment needs
- Propose budgets for projects and programs
- Hire and supervise staff
- Oversee research and development projects, including directing staff output and quality
- Coordinate work and collaborate with other staff and managers
Architectural and engineering managers use their knowledge of architecture or engineering to oversee a variety of activities. They may direct and coordinate construction or manufacturing related to production, operations, quality assurance, testing, or maintenance.
As part of their oversight responsibilities, architectural and engineering managers set goals and develop detailed plans, including production schedules. They also prepare budgets for projects, staff, and equipment needs. In this way, managers anticipate problems that may arise and which might otherwise hinder a project’s completion.
Architectural and engineering managers hire staff and assign them to carry out specific parts of a project. They also supervise employees’ work, which may include collaborating with other organizations, to monitor the project’s quality and progress through completion.
Work Environment
Architectural and engineering managers held about 201,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of architectural and engineering managers were as follows:
| Manufacturing | 36% |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | 27 |
| Government | 8 |
| Scientific research and development services | 6 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 |
Most architectural and engineering managers work in offices. Some work in settings such as research laboratories or industrial production plants. These managers may work in groups and supervise other staff members, such as architects and engineers. They are often under pressure to meet deadlines and budgets.
Work Schedules
Most architectural and engineering managers work full time. Working more than 40 hours a week is common, especially when meeting deadlines.
Getting Started
How to Become an Architectural or Engineering Manager
Architectural and engineering managers advance to their positions after years of employment as an architect or engineer.
To enter the occupation, architectural and engineering managers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree and considerable work experience as an architect or engineer.
Education
Architectural and engineering managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree in engineering or architecture.
Bachelor’s degree programs in architecture and engineering usually include coursework in mathematics and physical sciences. In addition, architecture programs may include courses such as architectural history and theory, computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), and construction methods; these programs take about 5 years to complete. Engineering programs vary by concentration and often take about 4 years of classroom, laboratory, and field studies in engineering principles and systems.
Architectural and engineering managers or prospective managers may complete a master’s degree in engineering management (MEM or MsEM), technology management (MSTM), or business administration (MBA). Some earn their master’s degree before entering a management position; others earn it while working as a manager. Typically, those who prefer to manage in technical areas pursue an MsEM or MSTM, and those interested in general management skills earn an MBA.
Engineering and technology management programs include courses such as accounting, marketing, and finance that focus on the particular field. Programs in engineering management also include coursework in supply chain management and product development. Programs in technology management include courses in information security and systems development.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Architectural and engineering managers typically do not need a license. However, these managers may advance from other occupations that do require licensure. For example, all states require architects to be licensed, and some engineers obtain a professional engineering (PE) license. Contact your state licensing board for more information.
Some managers choose to earn certification. For example, certification in technology management is available from the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Architectural and engineering managers typically advance to their positions after years of experience as an architect or engineer. In those positions, they may have worked on complex projects, developed designs, solved problems, and led teams.
Job Outlook
Employment of architectural and engineering managers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 13,600 openings for architectural and engineering managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Employment growth will largely reflect the growth of the industries in which these managers are employed. Demand for civil engineering services is expected to continue as the nation’s aging infrastructure requires expansion and repair. These managers also should be needed for projects such as wind turbine farms and other renewable energy construction and design.
Contacts for More Information
For information on architecture and engineering management programs, visit
American Institute of Architects
Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Architectural and engineering managers (PDF)
CareerOneStop
For a career video on architectural and engineering managers, visit
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of architectural and engineering managers.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Aerospace Engineers |
Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. |
Bachelor's degree | $126,880 |
|
Architects |
Architects plan and design houses, factories, office buildings, and other structures. |
Bachelor's degree | $82,840 |
|
Civil Engineers |
Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects. |
Bachelor's degree | $89,940 |
|
Construction Managers |
Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish. |
Bachelor's degree | $101,480 |
|
Electrical and Electronics Engineers |
Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment. |
Bachelor's degree | $104,610 |
|
Industrial Engineers |
Industrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service. |
Bachelor's degree | $96,350 |
|
Industrial Production Managers |
Industrial production managers oversee the operations of manufacturing and related plants. |
Bachelor's degree | $107,560 |
|
Materials Engineers |
Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products. |
Bachelor's degree | $100,140 |
|
Mechanical Engineers |
Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices. |
Bachelor's degree | $96,310 |
|
Nuclear Engineers |
Nuclear engineers research and develop projects or address problems concerning the release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal. |
Bachelor's degree | $122,480 |