Career comparison
Architect vs. Civil Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Civil engineers earn more at the median ($100,840 vs. $99,280), while civil engineers usually get to work faster (4 years + PE path of training). Architects design buildings that are safe, useful and beautiful. Civil engineers design and build roads, bridges, water systems and the infrastructure we rely on.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Architect | Civil Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $99,280 ($47.73/hr) | $100,840 ($48.48/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $62,300 – $161,420 | $68,240 – $163,220 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.3% (about as fast as average) | +6.4% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 6,900 | 22,700 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years of school plus internship | 4 years + PE path |
| Key credential | State architect license | Engineer in Training (EIT) |
| Work setting | Architects work in studios, at client meetings and on job sites.. | Civil engineers work in offices and at construction sites.. |
What each job does
Architect
- Meet clients
- Develop designs
- Create drawings and models
- Coordinate engineers
- Ensure code compliance
Civil Engineer
- Design infrastructure projects
- Analyze loads, soils and water flow
- Prepare plans and specifications
- Estimate costs
- Manage construction
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving, high-pay, and teamwork. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose architect if…
- I love buildings
- I’m creative and technical
- I like drawing and modeling
Choose civil engineer if…
- I love math and physics
- I want to build infrastructure
- I like solving complex problems
Still torn? Take the Architect fit quiz and the Civil Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, architect or civil engineer?
Civil Engineers earn more at the median: $100,840 versus $99,280 for architects, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Civil Engineers typically train faster (4 years + PE path) than architects (5–7 years of school plus internship).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects civil engineers to grow +6.4% from 2025–35, compared with +4.3% for architects.