Available

Project Architect
United States

Architects are 2% of AEC delivery. Everyone is hiring them.

Quello Talent Report · October 2026 · Source: LinkedIn Talent Insights

13,793

Project and Senior Architects in a US AEC delivery pool of 526,829 professionals

1 in 16

Job posts per Project Architect, versus 1 in 50 for Architects

2.5 years

Median tenure

$123K / $104K

US base-pay medians: Senior Project Architect / Project Architect

Top 5 insights

  1. Architects are a sliver of AEC delivery.

    Project Architects represent 2% of the pool, Senior Architects 1% , and Project Managers 58% .

  2. The shortage is licensed and mid-career.

    There is one open post per 16 Project Architects and per 18 Senior Architects .

  3. Engineering and construction are pulling ahead.

    Architecture & Planning is flat with low hiring demand. Construction firms took a net 7 professionals from architecture firms.

  4. Senior postings trail the AIA benchmark.

    Senior postings have a median midpoint of $120K , below the AIA median of $131K for licensed Senior Architects.

  5. Talent stays put.

    Only 8.9% changed jobs last year.

Where demand is tightest

Austin

1 post per 18 professionals

Phoenix

1 post per 24 professionals

Dallas-Fort Worth

1 post per 24 professionals

New York

1 post per 53 professionals

AEC isn't short of project people. It's short of licensed architects who lead projects.