Architecture Salary and Design Salary Insights 2024

Our CEO and founder, Lindsay Urquhart, shares her thoughts on the architecture and design market for 2024, and what to expect as the year unfolds.

What can we expect from the year ahead?

The architecture and design market has always been linked to economic health, population growth and government spending, and now is no different. There has been a slowing in Australia in the last six months, more so in Sydney than Melbourne. In the US, there has also been a slight contraction, with a tougher market in California and caution in New York – only Texas has remained steady. In the UK, the market has been resilient, somewhat hardened to difficult times since Brexit, the pandemic, political chaos and now a second war, and things are now stabilising. But despite the mixed market, every Bespoke location is reporting an optimistic outlook for 2024, with many reporting frequent understaffing in firms. Taking it by sector, a less lucrative private market means that many firms are relying on government spending in health and education, which is happening in Australia and the United States especially. Some sectors never seem to fail, with Australian firms still building multi-residential apartments and the Australian workplace sector looking healthy too thanks to a drive to move back into the office.

Uncertainty in the market has also meant firms are keen to hire in specialist fields. This is evident in London where there is a demand for architects to work on Middle Eastern projects, in Brisbane where companies are chasing sport and health specialists, in New York where specialisation in transportation, aviation or health is in demand, and in Los Angeles, where lab and medical planners are being highly sought after. Business support staff, such as marketing and bid submissions are in demand too across all locations.

“While hybrid work is still happening, employers in many locations are keen for people to work more days in the office, or return to the office full time.”

In terms of relocating staff, Melbourne firms are interested to see how reciprocal work visas between Australia and the UK will impact things and are hoping that working holiday visas will bring in more overseas candidates for short-term contracts. Meanwhile, more architects and designers than ever are relocating to Texas, mostly from elsewhere in the US. While hybrid work is still happening, employers in many locations are keen for people to work more days in the office, or return to the office full time. As long as understaffing is a problem and demand for new staff is high in every location, firms are having to think about how to make themselves stand out. In London, many firms are offering a range of incentives with a particular focus on professional development and flexibility, and in New York and Texas, employers are having to streamline the recruitment process to secure hires. Bespoke has a unique insight into recruitment in the architecture and design industry due to its global network of offices, creating insights into the health of the market, and into what employers and employees are looking for.

“Keeping the application process streamlined is critical at the minute for firms to secure the best talent.”

We know that finding candidates is complicated – what a candidate wants or needs in a role may not match what a firm is willing to offer. The growing and receding of hybrid work is one example of this push-pull, where many staff are still hoping to negotiate days working from home, while employers are increasingly wanting staff to make the trip into the office. Other factors, such as part time roles, flexible hours, freelance or contract positions, salaries, career progression and role titles create more points for negotiation between employer and employee. Keeping the application process streamlined is now becoming critical for firms to secure the best talent. The city insights in our Global Salary Guide provide a snapshot of what’s happening in the market, including which sectors or skills are most in demand, what incentives firms offer and tips on how to secure talent in what remains a highly competitive market.

For more information, request your copy here, or contact our teams for more information.