Most Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs take two years to complete. Graduates start earning $50,908 right after finishing, climbing to $82,320 four years out.
About Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
This page covers Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Engineering Tech and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians is a focused area of study within Engineering Tech. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $82,320 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 99 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 1,261 students complete it each year, most walking away with a associate's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$50,908
Median Earnings · 4yr
$82,320
Colleges Offering
99
Graduates / Year
1,261
Avg Net Price / yr
$13,291
How Much Do Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians, a typical graduate earns $82,320, well above average for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $61,190 and $98,862, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $50,908 at one year out to $82,320 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$82,320
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$71,688
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$61,19025th pct.
$82,320Median
$98,86275th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $82,320 against an estimated $53,164 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 17 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 1,261 students who complete Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs each year, the majority (58%) earn a associate's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
58%34%
Associate's58%
Bachelor's34%
Master's4%
What Can You Do With an Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Architectural and Civil Drafters pay the most at $66,150/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Reading ComprehensionSystems AnalysisComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningCritical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.
Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
Apply theory and principles of civil engineering in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of structures and facilities under the direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
Calculate dimensions, square footage, profile and component specifications, and material quantities, using calculator or computer.
Read and review project blueprints and structural specifications to determine dimensions of structure or system and material requirements.
Draft detailed dimensional drawings and design layouts for projects to ensure conformance to specifications.
Top Colleges for Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Not sure where to study Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Engineering Tech Programs
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians is not the only path through Engineering Tech: 18 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians a solid option. The 4 strengths and 0 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $82,320 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $50,908 at graduation to $82,320 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +5.2% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 15,200 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
How much do Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?
$82,320 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $61,190 and $98,862, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians degree?
$50,908 in the first year out. That grows to $82,320 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with an Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians degree?
Architectural and Civil Drafters are one path, and it pays a median of $66,150 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does an Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians program take?
Two years full-time at a community college for an Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians associate degree. Many students use it as a stepping stone, transferring to a four-year school afterward to finish a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians?
99 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is an Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians degree worth it?
$82,320 median earnings four years out against $13,291 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians and Engineering Tech?
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians is the narrower of the two: Engineering Tech covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates consistently look for analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Usually worth considering. A master's in a STEM field can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles, and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential depending on specialization. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +4.2% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Architectural and Civil Drafters are among the strongest-growth roles at +5.2%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Engineering Tech Programs
Other programs in Engineering Tech. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
Yes, most schools allow it, but the schedule math rarely works without either overlapping requirements or extra time. Here's when it actually fits in four years.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
