Jobs Similar to Architects (Except Landscape and Naval)
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to architects (except landscape and naval), according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Landscape Architects, Architectural and Civil Drafters and Civil Engineers.
Architects (Except Landscape and Naval): $99,280 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Architects (Except Landscape and Naval)) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Landscape ArchitectsSame group | 81% | $79,870−20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | 80% | $66,150−33% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Civil Engineers | 79% | $100,840+2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Transportation Engineers | 77% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Wind Energy Engineers | 77% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers | 75% | $115,160Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 75% | $64,950−35% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 75% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Water/Wastewater Engineers | 74% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Interior Designers | 73% | $67,190−32% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 73% | $76,870−23% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Environmental Engineers | 72% | $107,110+8% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 71% | $106,220+7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 71% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Security Management Specialists | 71% | $83,050Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Mechanical Drafters | 71% | $71,550−28% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Construction and Building Inspectors | 71% | $74,690−25% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Aerospace Engineers | 69% | $134,960+36% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Commercial and Industrial Designers | 69% | $83,910−15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Electrical Engineers | 69% | $120,630+22% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Landscape Architects
81% similar · $79,870 (−20%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Architectural and Civil Drafters
80% similar · $66,150 (−33%) · Training or associate
- 3Civil Engineers
79% similar · $100,840 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Transportation Engineers
77% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Wind Energy Engineers
77% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
75% similar · $115,160 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $64,950 (−35%) · Training or associate
- 8Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
75% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Water/Wastewater Engineers
74% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Interior Designers
73% similar · $67,190 (−32%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Electrical and Electronics Drafters
73% similar · $76,870 (−23%) · Training or associate
- 12Environmental Engineers
72% similar · $107,110 (+8%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
71% similar · $106,220 (+7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Solar Energy Systems Engineers
71% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Security Management Specialists
71% similar · $83,050 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Mechanical Drafters
71% similar · $71,550 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 17Construction and Building Inspectors
71% similar · $74,690 (−25%) · Training or associate
- 18Aerospace Engineers
69% similar · $134,960 (+36%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Commercial and Industrial Designers
69% similar · $83,910 (−15%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Electrical Engineers
69% similar · $120,630 (+22%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than architects (except landscape and naval).
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Landscape Architects81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Architectural and Civil Drafters80% similar · Training or associate
- Civil Engineers79% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Transportation Engineers77% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Wind Energy Engineers77% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers75% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for architects (except landscape and naval) also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where architects (except landscape and naval) is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Civil Engineers (81)
- Architectural and Civil Drafters (72)
- Interior Designers (72)
- Transportation Engineers (72)
- Wind Energy Engineers (72)
- Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary (70)
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (70)
- Set and Exhibit Designers (70)
- Environmental Engineers (67)
- Commercial and Industrial Designers (64)
Questions about jobs like architects (except landscape and naval)
What jobs are most similar to architects (except landscape and naval)?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Landscape Architects (81% similar), Architectural and Civil Drafters (80% similar), Civil Engineers (79% similar), Transportation Engineers (77% similar) and Wind Energy Engineers (77% similar).
Which jobs like architects (except landscape and naval) pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Aerospace Engineers ($134,960, +36%; usually a bachelor's degree), Electrical Engineers ($120,630, +22%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Environmental Engineers ($107,110, +8%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with architects (except landscape and naval) ($99,280). Without more preparation than architects (except landscape and naval) usually need: Aerospace Engineers, Electrical Engineers and Environmental Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.