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Architectural and Engineering Managers

Also called: Engineering Director, Engineering Program Manager, Project Engineering Manager, Project Manager

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

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Median pay BLS, 2025$171,270
Openings a year BLS, 2025–3514,900
Typical education to start BLSBachelor's degree
AI exposure BLS, Aug 2026 High
Projected job growth BLS, 2025–35 +5.5%

What the data says: AI could halve the time on 12 of its 19 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 5.5% by 2035. How to think about this →

About this projection

BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”

It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”

On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”

BLS figures cover the broader occupation “Architectural and engineering managers”, which includes this one and others.

Recent conditions

  • In 2024, 1.7% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
  • From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 44% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.

How to read these

Pay compared with all occupations BLS median wages Pays more than 97% of 825 occupations
lowest-paidhighest-paid

Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates

$141k$215knot published

Median pay in every state
StateMedianMiddle half earnJobs
Alabama$162,350$131,290 to $201,1903,790
Alaska$164,260$134,570 to $211,190900
Arizona$167,480$135,110 to $207,8804,680
Arkansas$140,600$110,310 to $174,6501,220
California$210,280$169,140 to $251,89029,630
Colorado$183,810$165,420 to $225,1004,900
Connecticut$175,490$141,220 to $213,4504,970
Delaware$181,190$161,890 to $197,590560
District of Columbia$185,220$161,470 to $195,1901,290
Florida$170,740$138,760 to $208,3708,710
Georgia$161,470$129,470 to $189,9903,590
Guam$100,740$85,000 to $141,13060
Hawaii$151,670$125,730 to $173,1601,220
Idaho$162,970$128,200 to $187,600850
Illinois$163,610$133,070 to $200,1908,900
Indiana$155,810$127,360 to $178,2804,610
Iowa$147,320$127,540 to $170,2801,520
Kansas$160,150$131,600 to $191,0202,010
Kentucky$147,680$127,880 to $170,6501,800
Louisiana$162,850$130,740 to $193,8401,840
Maine$145,720$133,140 to $171,020820
Maryland$172,670$139,990 to $197,1605,240
Massachusetts$201,430$166,430 to $226,6807,690
Michigan$166,930$135,210 to $188,61014,820
Minnesota$172,130$149,190 to $210,0704,580
Mississippi$142,790$118,430 to $171,930860
Missouri$157,800$129,270 to $202,3802,250
Montana$146,030$122,110 to $176,400560
Nebraska$141,020$122,740 to $175,3801,510
Nevada$161,560$135,080 to $208,090780
New Hampshire$172,240$139,870 to $218,4402,160
New Jersey$180,640$154,970 to $221,9604,540
New Mexico$215,120$208,290 to $259,6802,270
New York$175,710$149,070 to $215,1408,250
North Carolina$167,840$137,210 to $201,2306,960
North Dakota$147,400$132,150 to $175,280270
Ohio$166,870$134,090 to $202,5809,690
Oklahoma$157,330$130,290 to $174,9902,070
Oregon$177,190$154,700 to $209,820not published
Pennsylvania$164,690$133,960 to $187,2709,640
Puerto Rico$130,560$108,310 to $163,600770
Rhode Island$175,910$137,540 to $213,520370
South Carolina$169,040$137,180 to $208,0703,200
South Dakota$164,330$134,150 to $196,800310
Tennessee$161,430$130,170 to $193,3803,600
Texas$171,370$144,340 to $216,67019,030
Utah$161,120$134,650 to $180,3102,290
Vermont$157,710$136,440 to $179,290350
Virginia$176,160$147,770 to $213,1804,390
Washington$189,680$166,270 to $217,0706,060
West Virginia$149,430$122,760 to $177,740420
Wisconsin$142,060$126,500 to $170,5204,550
Wyoming$163,560$124,950 to $224,140not published

Nationally: $171,270. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this

How AI touches the work

What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.

AI could halve the time on 12 of its 19 tasks

2 · AI alone could halve the time 10 · AI + software built on it could 7 · Not much
AI ratingIts main tasks Share of Claude conversations
May 2026
Not much Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in architecture or engineering projects. Not published
AI + software Direct, review, or approve project design changes. Not published
Not much Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications. Not published
Not much Confer with management, production, or marketing staff to discuss project specifications or procedures. Not published
AI alone Develop or implement policies, standards, or procedures for engineering and technical work. under 0.01%
AI + software Present and explain proposals, reports, or findings to clients. 0.02%
See all 19 tasks
AI + software Review, recommend, or approve contracts or cost estimates. Not published
AI + software Perform administrative functions, such as reviewing or writing reports, approving expenditures, enforcing rules, or purchasing of materials or services. Not published
AI + software Assess project feasibility by analyzing technology, resource needs, or market demand. 0.03%
AI + software Direct recruitment, placement, and evaluation of architecture or engineering project staff. Not published
AI + software Prepare budgets, bids, or contracts. 0.01%
AI alone Establish scientific or technical goals within broad outlines provided by top management. Not published
AI + software Develop or implement programs to improve sustainability or reduce the environmental impacts of engineering or architecture activities or operations. Not published
Not much Plan or direct the installation, testing, operation, maintenance, or repair of facilities or equipment. Not published
AI + software Evaluate the environmental impacts of engineering, architecture, or research and development activities. Not published
Not much Plan, direct, or coordinate survey work with other project activities. Not published
AI + software Identify environmental threats or opportunities associated with the development and launch of new technologies. Not published
Not much Solicit project support by conferring with officials or providing information to the public. Not published
Not much Evaluate environmental regulations or social pressures related to environmental issues to inform strategic or operational decision-making. Not published

Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 4 of the 19 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.

Where people already use AI

The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 19 tasks fall under 21 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.

Tasks AI could speed up12 of 19 tasksEloundou et al. ratings (2023)
Its activities among the 50 people ask AI for help with most5 of 21 activities
  • #5 Provide information or assistance to the public
  • #12 Explain regulations, policies, or procedures
  • #17 Implement procedures or processes
  • and 2 more, in the table below
Microsoft Copilot (2024), ranked among all 332 activities. The cut-off of 50 is ours.
Work activity This occupation's tasks under it People asked AI for help
in 10,000 conversations		 AI did it for them
in 10,000 conversations
Implement procedures or processes 113#17 27#41
Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets 2.96#169 0.55#196
Develop organizational policies, systems, or processes 2.70#175 1.31#148
Evaluate project feasibility 2.26#191 0.68#184
Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures 1.85#204 0.36#225
Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activities 1.35#221 0.38#222
Authorize business activities or transactions 0.21#295 0.02#312
Direct construction or extraction activities 0.06#321 0.03#293
Show all 21 activities
Provide information or assistance to the public 356#5 1,375#2
Explain regulations, policies, or procedures 131#12 119#15
Purchase goods or services 47#36 0.39#220
Assess characteristics or impacts of regulations or policies 33#47 16#52
Analyze market or industry conditions 14#70 6.73#74
Promote products, services, or programs 14#72 85#20
Communicate with others about operational plans or activities 9.39#92 28#39
Manage budgets or finances 4.12#143 0.51#203
Develop organizational or program goals or objectives 3.56#154 2.10#126
Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations 2.97#168 2.18#124
Negotiate contracts or agreements 1.06#233 0.13#263
Develop sustainable organizational or business policies or practices 0.72#254 0.33#231
Manage human resources activities 0.71#255 0.19#244
Task: AI alone Task: AI + software Task: not much #: rank among all 332 activities Microsoft measured (#1 = most common; activities that never came up share last place, shown as “tied”)
Where the two sources differ: “Authorize business activities or transactions” holds 2 tasks rated AI + software, yet people asked AI for help with it in 0.21 of every 10,000 conversations, #295 of 332.

How people in this work use Claude

What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations

  • An analysis or summary28%
  • A document or report18%
  • Data or a spreadsheet10%
  • Advice or a recommendation10%
  • A plan or strategy7%

How they worked with Claude

46% handed the task off54% worked on it together

66% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.

How to read this

Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for architectural and engineering managers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.

The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.

More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude

High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs

BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.

AI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213 growingModerate151 of 206 growingHigh165 of 206 growingVery high141 of 206 growing11 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Click a dot to see that occupation.Architectural and engineering managers: +5.5%Architectural and Engineering ManagersAI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213Moderate151 of 206High165 of 206Very high141 of 20611 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Tap a dot.Architectural and engineering managers: +5.5%Architectural and Engineering Managers

Career moves into and out of this occupation

From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.

Where people moved next

of 213,534 moves out

  1. 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 15%
  2. 2 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
  3. 3 Engineers, All Other Very high +3.7% 6%
  4. 4 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 6%
  5. 5 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 4%

Where people moved in from

of 275,413 moves in

  1. 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 14%
  2. 2 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
  3. 3 Engineers, All Other Very high +3.7% 6%
  4. 4 Mechanical Engineers Very high +11.2% 4%
  5. 5 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 4%

Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).

Education and training for the occupation

Education people in it hold

O*NET survey of workers in this occupation

  • 1% associate's
  • 46% bachelor's
  • 1% post-bachelor's certificate
  • 27% master's
  • 12% post-master's certificate
  • 12% professional doctorate
  • 1% research doctorate

O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 23 people answered.

Census survey (American Community Survey)

  • 1% less than high school
  • 4% high school
  • 7% some college
  • 5% associate's
  • 47% bachelor's
  • 30% master's
  • 2% professional degree
  • 4% doctorate

Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 2,644 people surveyed.

Why the two can differ

O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide

Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation

Programs that prepare people for it (NCES)
70 programs, such as Architecture, Architectural Design and City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning.
See all
  • Architecture
  • Architectural Design
  • City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning
  • Environmental Design/Architecture
  • Healthcare Environment Design/Architecture
  • Interior Architecture
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology
  • Engineering, General
  • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General
  • Astronautical Engineering
  • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Other
  • Agricultural Engineering
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
  • Ceramic Sciences and Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering, Other
  • Civil Engineering, General
  • Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Transportation and Highway Engineering
  • Water Resources Engineering
  • Civil Engineering, Other
  • Computer Engineering, General
  • Computer Hardware Engineering
  • Computer Software Engineering
  • Computer Engineering, Other
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  • Laser and Optical Engineering
  • Telecommunications Engineering
  • Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, Other
  • Engineering Mechanics
  • Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
  • Engineering Science
  • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Metallurgical Engineering
  • Mining and Mineral Engineering
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Systems Engineering
  • Textile Sciences and Engineering
  • Polymer/Plastics Engineering
  • Construction Engineering
  • Forest Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Surveying Engineering
  • Geological/Geophysical Engineering
  • Paper Science and Engineering
  • Electromechanical Engineering
  • Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
  • Biochemical Engineering
  • Engineering Chemistry
  • Biological/Biosystems Engineering
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Energy Systems Engineering, General
  • Power Plant Engineering
  • Energy Systems Engineering, Other
  • Engineering, Other
  • Engineering/Industrial Management
  • Engineering Design
  • Packaging Science
  • Materials Science
  • Science/Technology Management

Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023

42.9% this occupation

45.3% all occupations

By kindThis occupationAll occupations
a license24.7%19.1%
a certification8.3%5.8%
an educational certificate<0.5%2.8%

Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this

Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor

These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide

See where your own career could go Start by uploading your resume Browse careers

BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS

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