Architectural and Engineering Managers

What They Do: Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.

Work Environment: Most architectural and engineering managers work in offices, although some may also work in research laboratories and industrial production plants or at construction sites. Most work full time and some work more than 40 hours a week.

How to Become One: Architectural and engineering managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree and considerable work experience as an architect or engineer.

Salary: The median annual wage for architectural and engineering managers was $171,270 in May 2025.

Job Outlook: Employment of architectural and engineering managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of architectural and engineering managers with similar occupations.

Following is everything you need to know about a career as an architectural or engineering manager with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:

Top 3 Architect Manager Jobs

• Project Architect - Atlantic-AE - Columbus,OH

  Remote | Full-Time | 6+ Years of Architectural Experience | Active Architecture Licensure Are you a licensed architect who thrives on delivering high-quality projects through strong technical work and team...

• Architectural Project Manager - M Moser Associates - Columbus,OH

  Architecture Project Manager - Ground Up or Repositioning Location: New York, NY Type: Full-time | Hybrid About M Moser Associates At M Moser Associates, we design environments that empower...

• Robotics Technical Architect - Accenture - Columbus,OH

  We are Accenture helps the world's leading enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and unleashing the power of AI to create value at speed for organizations across industries. Our strategy is to be the reinvention partner of...

See all Architect Manager jobs

Top 3 Engineering Manager Jobs

• Sr. Project Manager - CrestCura Energy Services - Columbus,OH

  Job Title: Sr. Project Manager – Utility-Scale Solar (PV) & Energy Storage (BESS) Company Overview CrestCura is a specialized service provider delivering expert (SME) services for...

• Industrial Engineer – Consulting (Entry Level) | Remote (U.S.) | Weekly Client-Site Travel | $80,000-$90,000 Base - Continuum - Columbus,OH

  Industrial Engineer – Consulting (Entry Level) Remote (U.S.) | Weekly Client-Site Travel | $80,000-$90,000 Base About Continuum Continuum Performance Management Consulting designs...

• Technical Project Manager - Omega Systems - Columbus,OH

  Position: Project Manager — Technology Services (MSP) Reports To: Vice President of Service Delivery Division: Service...

See all Engineering Manager jobs

What Architectural and Engineering Managers Do[About this section] [To Top]

Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.

Duties of Architectural and Engineering Managers

Architectural and engineering managers typically do the following:

• Make detailed plans for the development of new products and designs
• Determine staff, training, and equipment needs
• Propose budgets for projects and programs
• Hire and supervise staff
• Lead research and development projects to produce new products, processes, or designs
• Check the technical accuracy of their staff's work
• Ensure the soundness of methods their staff uses
• Coordinate work 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 building activities at construction sites or activities related to production, operations, quality assurance, testing, or maintenance at manufacturing sites.

Architectural and engineering managers are responsible for developing the overall concept of a new product or for solving the technical problems that prevent the completion of a project. To accomplish this, they must determine technical goals and produce detailed plans.

Architectural and engineering managers spend a great deal of time coordinating the activities of their staff with the activities of other staff or organizations. They often confer with other managers, including those in finance, production, and marketing, as well as with contractors and equipment and materials suppliers.

In addition, architectural and engineering managers must know how to prepare budgets, hire staff, and supervise employees. They propose budgets for projects and programs and determine staff, training, and equipment needs. These managers must also hire people and assign them specific parts of each project to carry out. Architectural and engineering managers supervise the work of their employees, set schedules, and create administrative procedures.

Work Environment for Architectural and Engineering Managers[About this section] [To Top]

Architectural and engineering managers hold about 191,100 jobs. The largest employers of architectural and engineering managers are as follows:

Manufacturing	35%
Architectural, engineering, and related services	28%
Government	9%
Scientific research and development services	6%
Management of companies and enterprises	5%

Most architectural and engineering managers work in offices, although some may also work in research laboratories and industrial production plants or at construction sites.

Architectural and Engineering Manager Work Schedules

Most architectural and engineering managers work full time and some work more than 40 hours a week. These managers are often under considerable pressure to meet deadlines and budgets.

How to Become an Architectural or Engineering Manager[About this section] [To Top]

Get the education you need: Find schools for Architectural and Engineering Managers near you!

Architectural and engineering managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree and considerable work experience as an architect or engineer.

Education for Architectural and Engineering Managers

Most architectural and engineering managers have at least a bachelor's degree in an engineering specialty or a master's degree in architecture.

Some also obtain business management skills by completing a master's degree in engineering management (MEM or MsEM) or technology management (MSTM) or a master's degree in business administration (MBA). Some workers earn their master's degree before advancing to management positions, and others earn it while they work as a manager. Typically, those who prefer to manage in technical areas pursue an MsEM or MSTM and those interested in more general management skills earn an MBA.

Engineering management programs usually include classes in accounting, engineering economics, financial management, industrial and human resources management, and quality control.

Technology management programs typically provide instruction in production and operations management, project management, computer applications, quality control, safety and health issues, statistics, and general management principles.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation for Architectural and Engineering Managers

Managers advance to their positions after years of employment as an architect or engineer. They usually have experience working on difficult or complex projects, developing designs, solving problems, and making decisions. Before moving up to a management position, they also typically gain experience leading engineering teams.

Important Qualities for Architectural and Engineering Managers

Analytical skills. Architectural and engineering managers must evaluate information carefully and solve complex problems.

Communication skills. Architectural and engineering managers oversee staff and work together with other levels of management. They must effectively communicate orders and lead teams to meet goals.

Detail oriented. Architectural and engineering managers must pay attention to detail. Their duties require an understanding of complex systems since a minor error can cause major problems.

Math skills. Architectural and engineering managers use calculus and other advanced mathematics to develop new products and processes.

Organizational skills. Architectural and engineering managers keep track of many workers, schedules, and budgets simultaneously.

Architectural and Engineering Manager Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]

Salary and job outlook data updated October 2026 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wages, 2025-35 employment projections).

The median annual wage for architectural and engineering managers was $171,270 in May 2025. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $120,810, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $262,760.

In May 2025, the median annual wages for architectural and engineering managers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Scientific research and development services	$211,450
Management of companies and enterprises	$181,720
Manufacturing	$169,690
Architectural, engineering, and related services	$168,410
Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals	$159,930

Most architectural and engineering managers work full time. Working more than 40 hours a week is common, especially when meeting deadlines.

Job Outlook for Architectural and Engineering Managers[About this section] [To Top]

Employment of architectural and engineering managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 14,900 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 of these managers largely reflects the overall demand for architectural and engineering workers. Demand for civil engineering services is expected to continue to grow as the nation’s aging infrastructure requires repair and as the electrical grid requires updates and expansion. These managers also are expected to be needed for projects such as renewable energy construction and design.

Careers Related to Architectural and Engineering Managers[About this section] [To Top]

Aerospace Engineers

Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they create and test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.

Architects

Architects plan and design houses, factories, office buildings, and other structures.

Civil Engineers

Civil engineers conceive, design, build, supervise, operate, construct, and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.

Construction Managers

Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.

Electrical and Electronics Engineers

engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, including broadcast and communications systems, such as portable music players and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices.

Industrial Engineers

Industrial engineers find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes. They devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.

Industrial Production Managers

Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct the activities used to create a wide range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, or paper products.

Materials Engineers

Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a wide range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and biomedical devices. They study the properties and structures of metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, nanomaterials (extremely small substances), and other substances in order to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements.

Mechanical Engineers

Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.

Nuclear Engineers

Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. Many of these engineers find industrial and medical uses for radioactive materials—for example, in equipment used in medical diagnosis and treatment.

More Architectural and Engineering Manager Information[About this section] [To Top]

For information on architecture and engineering management programs, visit

ABET

American Institute of Architects

Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering