Huberman wrote:I recently got my license, boss wanted to take me out to" talk about what I want to do with the rest of my life" He's getting older and retirement is somewhere in the horizon. We talked about where the firm was headed and how it could grow. I am the next young guy in line to potentially take over. (I'm 29 and graduation 2 years ago) any way I got a 25k raise and possibility of becoming an associate. So depends where you work and they value you.
I personally work for a very large company that only has 1 architect and we don't even primarily do architecture and the architect is in his 70's. My personal goal is to take over his position once he retires.
ekelsey15 wrote:I personally work for a very large company that only has 1 architect and we don't even primarily do architecture and the architect is in his 70's. My personal goal is to take over his position once he retires.
Stage a coup?
cafefille wrote:I'll weigh in because I'm one of the unlucky ones. I am 27. Three years out of grad school, specialized in healthcare, was with my current firm for 2 years. Got licensed and asked for a $9K raise to bring me up to what the AIA salary calculator for my area says.
They gave me $2k raise because it's their "firm standard."
I get it, I'm young, but that is kind of BS. We have unlicensed designers here who will never be licensed, and I worked my ass off to get through these tests. I'm up and leaving this month and finding a firm that values me.
Has anyone else's firm switched to the 'bonuses only' model? Where they bump everyone's salary up to a certain level, then you get bonuses every year based on the performance of the firm? It's sounding like I'm in the minority here...
ekelsey15 wrote:Bonuses in lieu of what?
We typically get 2 bonuses a year depending on the firms performance, but we have also gotten raises. Are you saying your hourly is maxed and you may or may not get a bonus?
corbismyhomeboy wrote:ekelsey15 wrote:Bonuses in lieu of what?
We typically get 2 bonuses a year depending on the firms performance, but we have also gotten raises. Are you saying your hourly is maxed and you may or may not get a bonus?
Bonuses in lieu of raises. Yeah, my salary is what it is - and it's pretty far from the AIA standard - but certain years there are 20k+ in bonuses and some years you get none. It just depends on how we are doing. We do a lot of government work, so with the new guy in office, the reins have been tightened on government spending, therefore less work for us. Even private owners, many of them depend on grants or government money, are scared about the economy and spending less. It's hard to complain about no raise when you get that 20k extra, but on years when you don't...
corbismyhomeboy wrote:Has anyone else's firm switched to the 'bonuses only' model? Where they bump everyone's salary up to a certain level, then you get bonuses every year based on the performance of the firm? It's sounding like I'm in the minority here...
gbalaka wrote:cafefille wrote:I'll weigh in because I'm one of the unlucky ones. I am 27. Three years out of grad school, specialized in healthcare, was with my current firm for 2 years. Got licensed and asked for a $9K raise to bring me up to what the AIA salary calculator for my area says.
They gave me $2k raise because it's their "firm standard."
I get it, I'm young, but that is kind of BS. We have unlicensed designers here who will never be licensed, and I worked my ass off to get through these tests. I'm up and leaving this month and finding a firm that values me.
I agree with you 100%. You need to go work in a place where you are valued more and will make more $$$. I was "stuck" in a similar place for 6 years when i got out of college. Leaving that place was the best decision i ever made!
And when you apply for a new job and they ask you how much you used to make - you bump that number way up!
cafefille wrote:gbalaka wrote:cafefille wrote:I'll weigh in because I'm one of the unlucky ones. I am 27. Three years out of grad school, specialized in healthcare, was with my current firm for 2 years. Got licensed and asked for a $9K raise to bring me up to what the AIA salary calculator for my area says.
They gave me $2k raise because it's their "firm standard."
I get it, I'm young, but that is kind of BS. We have unlicensed designers here who will never be licensed, and I worked my ass off to get through these tests. I'm up and leaving this month and finding a firm that values me.
I agree with you 100%. You need to go work in a place where you are valued more and will make more $$$. I was "stuck" in a similar place for 6 years when i got out of college. Leaving that place was the best decision i ever made!
And when you apply for a new job and they ask you how much you used to make - you bump that number way up!
Thank you thank you thank you. That's what I need to hear. Not only did licensure barely change my salary, but also didn't change my status. I'm basically the Revit monkey for a project team that's all men (& I'm a woman) and I get no design input. I'm 3-4 years younger than the designer/architect on the team.
I keep telling myself just 1 month, and I'm out of here to a firm that will hire me for being an architect, not an intern... Sorry for the rant.
cafefille wrote:Thank you thank you thank you. That's what I need to hear. Not only did licensure barely change my salary, but also didn't change my status. I'm basically the Revit monkey for a project team that's all men (& I'm a woman) and I get no design input. I'm 3-4 years younger than the designer/architect on the team.
I keep telling myself just 1 month, and I'm out of here to a firm that will hire me for being an architect, not an intern... Sorry for the rant.
corbismyhomeboy wrote:Is anyone allowed to design their own projects/lead projects with 3 years experience?
Coach wrote:corbismyhomeboy wrote:Is anyone allowed to design their own projects/lead projects with 3 years experience?
I did. That's why I like small firms.
corbismyhomeboy wrote:cafefille wrote:Thank you thank you thank you. That's what I need to hear. Not only did licensure barely change my salary, but also didn't change my status. I'm basically the Revit monkey for a project team that's all men (& I'm a woman) and I get no design input. I'm 3-4 years younger than the designer/architect on the team.
I keep telling myself just 1 month, and I'm out of here to a firm that will hire me for being an architect, not an intern... Sorry for the rant.
Is anyone allowed to design their own projects/lead projects with 3 years experience? That's certainly not the case in my firm. Don't get me wrong, you should most certainly be able to contribute design input, no matter what level. (I say this as someone with between 3-4 years experience myself, so definitely not intended to be an insult or derogatory comment.) As others have said, if you feel you're getting the short end of the stick, definitely go and find somewhere that will appreciate you!
corbismyhomeboy wrote:cafefille wrote:Thank you thank you thank you. That's what I need to hear. Not only did licensure barely change my salary, but also didn't change my status. I'm basically the Revit monkey for a project team that's all men (& I'm a woman) and I get no design input. I'm 3-4 years younger than the designer/architect on the team.
I keep telling myself just 1 month, and I'm out of here to a firm that will hire me for being an architect, not an intern... Sorry for the rant.
Is anyone allowed to design their own projects/lead projects with 3 years experience? That's certainly not the case in my firm. Don't get me wrong, you should most certainly be able to contribute design input, no matter what level. (I say this as someone with between 3-4 years experience myself, so definitely not intended to be an insult or derogatory comment.) As others have said, if you feel you're getting the short end of the stick, definitely go and find somewhere that will appreciate you!
nickedemus wrote:For example, doing residential architecture I got some experience handling RFIs, submittals, change orders, etc. But I've gotten the most valuable construction administration experience on a fast-track heavy construction job through the company I work for now. The scale, the budget, the pace, and the complexity of the job offer a lot more opportunities for me to develop proficiency than more traditional architectural projects. Plus, I'm learning about interest during construction, operation and maintenance costs, and feasibility analysis.
Bailey15 wrote:I recently became licensed and heard from co-workers that I should expect a bump in pay. I got $3k. Very grateful, but I was expecting more, something that would really cap off this process with a super big positive because these 7 tests are hell. I am right at the mean salary for my level and in my region with the raise. I suppose you could say I was very well compensated as an intern but it would have been nice to get a bit more since this is a major milestone.
arearcher wrote:The AIA salary calculator has limited data that is several years old.
Users browsing this forum: BillieShime, ewuzuwuc, ihajinizul, ilivekucap, ipemezigo, iselaperawe, izepqowahocu, ojsegofomae, uboxuatezuhe, uvaonuvuniiik and 72 guests