Architect salary in Singapore
What the job is: Building architect designs commercial, industrial, institutional, residential and recreational buildings and plans and monitors their construction, maintenance and rehabilitation. Also called: Architectural designer. SSOC 2024, 21610
- Building architect: S$6,051 median a month. Middle 50% earn S$4,858 to S$8,450.
- Architectural draughtsperson: S$4,785 median, S$1,266 below a building architect.
- Age: building architects earn S$4,833 at 25 to 29 and S$9,000 at 40 to 49.
- Architecture graduates: S$4,490 median at SUTD three years after graduation, and S$3,800 at NUS Landscape Architecture.
- Year to year: the building architect median has moved between S$5,000 and S$6,798 since 2020.
How much do architects earn?
A building architect earns S$6,051 at the median, S$1,266 more than an architectural draughtsperson.
Gross monthly wage, June 2025, all industries.
| Occupation, all industries | Basic wage, median | Gross, 25th percentile | Gross, median | Gross, 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building architectFull detail | 5,961 | 4,858 | 6,051 | 8,450 |
| Architectural draughtspersonPartial detail | 4,716 | 4,000 | 4,785 | 5,830 |
Source cells (MOM spreadsheet)
T4!C88:I88, T4!C245:I245- Gross pay is close to basic: the building architect basic median is S$5,961, so allowances and overtime add little.
- Architect pay has a wide range, S$3,592 between the 25th and 75th percentile, because new and senior architects share one title.
- Draughtspersons prepare working drawings from architects' sketches and specifications (SSOC 2024).
What affects pay most
For Building architect (SSOC 21610), age makes the largest difference: S$9,000 (40 to 49) against S$4,833 (25 to 29), 86% more.
| What changes | Lowest | Median | Highest | Median | Highest vs lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 25 to 29 | 4,833 | 40 to 49 | 9,000 | 86% |
| Firm size | 25 to 199 staff | 6,000 | 200 or more staff | 6,250 | 4% |
| Sex | Women | 6,000 | Men | 6,100 | 2% |
Salary for architecture graduates
SUTD Architecture and Sustainable Design graduates earned S$4,490 at the median, three years after graduating. NUS Landscape Architecture graduates earned S$3,800.
Graduates in full-time permanent jobs, from MOE's Graduate Employment Survey 2025.
| University and programme | Basic, median | Gross, median | Gross, mean | Gross, middle 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUS, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture | 3,800 | 3,800 | 3,949 | 3,800 to 4,008 |
| SUTD, Architecture and Sustainable Design | 4,465 | 4,490 | 4,396 | 4,000 to 4,800 |
- SUTD's figures are for the class of 2022, surveyed three years after graduation so that graduates could finish the training needed to register as architects.
- NUS Landscape Architecture figures are for 2025 graduates, surveyed on 1 November 2025. Landscape architecture is a design degree close to building architecture.
- The SUTD middle 50% earned S$4,000 to S$4,800. At NUS it was S$3,800 to S$4,008.
Job outcomes for architecture graduates91.4% of SUTD Architecture and Sustainable Design graduates were in full-time permanent jobs, against 40.0% at NUS Landscape Architecture.
91.4% of SUTD Architecture and Sustainable Design graduates were in full-time permanent jobs, against 40.0% at NUS Landscape Architecture.
Share of graduates in the labour force.
| Programme | Course response rate | Currently employed | In full-time permanent employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUS, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture | 97% | 60.0% | 40.0% |
| SUTD, Architecture and Sustainable Design | 73% | 97.1% | 91.4% |
- 73% of the SUTD class and 97% of the NUS class answered MOE's survey.
- 97.1% of the SUTD graduates were employed, and 60.0% of the NUS graduates.
How pay changes with age
Building architect pay rises from S$4,833 at 25 to 29 to S$9,000 at 40 to 49. It is S$8,450 at 50 to 59.
Median gross monthly wage by age group.
| Occupation | 25–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building architect | 4,833 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 8,450 |
| Architectural draughtsperson | – | 4,650 | 5,156 | 4,700 |
Source cells (MOM spreadsheet)
T3!C81:K81, T3!C209:K209- At 40 to 49, the median is S$3,000 above the 30 to 39 band of S$6,000.
- Draughtspersons earn S$4,650 at 30 to 39 and S$5,156 at 40 to 49. MOM suppresses the figure for 25 to 29.
- Each age band shows different people in June 2025.
By sex and employer sizeMale building architects earn S$6,100 at the median and women S$6,000.
Male building architects earn S$6,100 at the median and women S$6,000.
| Occupation | All, median gross | Men | Women | Women vs men |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building architect | 6,051 | 6,100 | 6,000 | -1.6% |
| Architectural draughtsperson | 4,785 | 5,001 | 4,685 | -6.3% |
Source cells (MOM spreadsheet)
T1.1!C81:E81, T1.2!C81:E81, T1.1!C213:E213, T1.2!C211:E211| Occupation | Firms with 25 to 199 employees | Firms with 200 or more | Large vs small |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building architect | 6,000 | 6,250 | +4.2% |
| Architectural draughtsperson | 4,500 | 5,001 | +11.1% |
Source cells (MOM spreadsheet)
T2!C89:G89, T2!C238:G238- By employer size, the median is S$6,000 at firms with 25 to 199 staff and S$6,250 at firms with 200 or more.
- These compare two groups. They are not an adjusted pay gap.
By employer industry
MOM publishes building architect pay for one industry, professional services, at S$6,200.
Architecture firms sit in professional services.
| Employer industry | Median gross wage | Gross wage, middle 50% |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Services | 6,200 | 5,100 to 9,000 |
Source cells (MOM spreadsheet)
T4.9!C49:I49- The middle 50% in professional services earn S$5,100 to S$9,000. MOM publishes no figure for architects in other industries.
Pay over time
The building architect median fell from S$6,500 in 2020 to S$5,000 in 2022, rose to S$6,798 in 2024, and was S$6,051 in 2025.
Official medians for the last six years, then a projection for June 2026.
| Occupation | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building architect | 6,500 | 5,660 | 5,000 | 6,280 | 6,798 | 6,051 | |
| Architectural draughtsperson | – | – | – | 5,231 | 4,135 | 4,785 |
June 2026 projection Estimate
| Occupation | June 2025 (MOM) | June 2026 projection | 80% range | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building architect | 6,051 | Not projected: too volatile | ||
| Architectural draughtsperson | 4,785 | Not projected: too volatile | ||
- No 2026 projection is shown: the past figures move too much from year to year for a reliable estimate.
- Draughtsperson pay was S$5,231 in 2023, S$4,135 in 2024 and S$4,785 in 2025.
Is architecture affected by AI?
The ILO rates building architects and draughtspersons Minimal for exposure to generative AI. Drawing and documentation tasks are the most exposed.
Based on the International Labour Organization's 2025 index, which scores every core task of a job from 0 (AI cannot help) to 1 (AI could do nearly all of it).
AI can help with a small part of this job, mostly paperwork.
- Most exposed taskPreparing project documentation, including sketches
- Least exposed taskMonitoring construction or rehabilitation work
- In numbersNone of its 9 main tasks is one AI could do a large part of.
AI can help with a small part of this job, mostly paperwork.
- Most exposed taskOperating computer-aided design and drafting equipment
- Least exposed taskCopying drawings and paintings onto stone or metal plates…
- In numbersNone of its 8 main tasks is one AI could do a large part of.
- Not exposed
- Minimal
- Some
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Scored as ILO group 2161 Building architects. Average task score 0.37, higher than 70% of the 427 jobs the ILO scored.
- Not exposed
- Minimal
- Some
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Scored as ILO group 3118 Draughtspersons. Average task score 0.35, higher than 63% of the 427 jobs the ILO scored.
| Factor | Building architect | Architectural draughtsperson |
|---|---|---|
| 1Exposure levelThe ILO's rating for the whole job, from not exposed up to very high. | Minimal | Minimal |
| 2Average task scoreHow much of each core task generative AI could do, averaged. 0 means none, 1 means nearly all. | 0.37 higher than 70% of jobs | 0.35 higher than 63% of jobs |
| 3Tasks AI could do much ofTasks scoring 0.5 or more. These are the parts of the job most likely to change. | 0 of 9 | 0 of 8 |
| 4Hands-on or people tasksTasks scoring under 0.25: physical, in-person or judgement work that AI barely touches. | 1 of 9 | 1 of 8 |
| 5How even the exposure isEven means AI touches most tasks a little. Uneven means a few tasks are exposed and the rest are not. | Even (0.07) | Mixed (0.10) |
| 6Most exposed taskWhere AI tools are likely to show up first. | Preparing project documentation, including sketches and… 0.47 | Operating computer-aided design and drafting equipment to… 0.47 |
| 7Least exposed taskThe task AI can help with least. | Monitoring construction or rehabilitation work to ensure… 0.23 | Copying drawings and paintings onto stone or metal plates… 0.15 |
| 8Pay trend so farChange in the MOM median since the first year on record. Any AI effect would show here in later years. | -7% S$6,500 (2020) to S$6,051 (2025) | -9% S$5,231 (2023) to S$4,785 (2025) |
- 0.47Preparing project documentation, including sketches and scale drawings, and…
- 0.46Writing specifications and contract documents for use by builders and calling…
- 0.41Identifying and finding best solutions for problems regarding function and…
- 0.23Monitoring construction or rehabilitation work to ensure compliance with…
- 0.29Inspecting sites and consulting clients, management and other stakeholders to…
- 0.33Providing information regarding designs, materials and estimated building…
- 0.47Operating computer-aided design and drafting equipment to create, modify and…
- 0.46Operating digitizing table or similar equipment to transfer hard-copy…
- 0.39Arranging for completed drawings to be reproduced for use as working drawings
- 0.15Copying drawings and paintings onto stone or metal plates for printing
- 0.28Preparing wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams and layout…
- 0.32Preparing and revising illustrations for reference works, brochures and…
Source cells (MOM spreadsheet)
SSOC 21610 to ISCO 2161 (SSOC2024-ISCO08!B170); SSOC 31184 to ISCO 3118 (SSOC2024-ISCO08!B458)- Preparing sketches and scale drawings is the most exposed task for architects, at 0.47, followed by writing specifications at 0.46.
- Monitoring construction work is the least exposed task, at 0.225.
- Exposure measures how much of the work AI could do or speed up. It does not measure job cuts.
Which figure should you compare with?
Match your title first, then your age band.
| You are | Compare with | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape architecture graduate | NUS Landscape Architecture, 2025 | S$3,800 |
| Architecture graduate | SUTD, 3 years after graduation | S$4,490 |
| Architect, early career | Age 25 to 29 median | S$4,833 |
| Architect, 30s | Age 30 to 39 median | S$6,000 |
| Senior architect | Age 40 to 59 | S$8,450 to S$9,000 |
| Architect at a design firm | Professional services figure | S$6,200 |
| Architectural draughtsperson | Draughtsperson row, your age band | S$4,650 to S$5,156 |
About these figures
What the pay figures includeMonthly gross pay with allowances and overtime, without bonuses or employer CPF
Every figure is monthly, includes allowances and overtime, and excludes bonuses and employer CPF.
| Measure | Includes | Excludes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic wage | Basic pay | Allowances, overtime, bonus, employer CPF |
| Gross wage | Basic + allowances + overtime + commissions | Bonus, employer CPF, lump sums |
| Graduate salary | Same as gross, full-time permanent jobs only | Bonus, employer CPF |
- S$6,051 × 12 = S$72,612 a year before bonus. It is not a total package.
What this data does not coverMOM covers private-sector firms with at least 25 staff, so small architecture practices are not in these figures.
MOM covers private-sector firms with at least 25 staff, so small architecture practices are not in these figures.
- Firms with fewer than 25 staff, the public sector and self-employed architects are not covered.
- Partners who own their practice are not employees and are not in MOM's survey.
- Bonuses are excluded from every figure.
Questions
What is the architect salary in Singapore?
MOM's median gross monthly wage for building architect was S$6,051 in June 2025. The middle half earned S$4,858 to S$8,450. Basic pay alone had a median of S$5,961.
What is the architect salary per year in Singapore?
S$6,051 a month is S$72,612 a year before bonus. Bonuses and the employer's CPF contribution come on top and are not in MOM's monthly figure.
How does architect pay change with age?
Median gross monthly pay for building architect was S$4,833 at 25 to 29, S$6,000 at 30 to 39, S$9,000 at 40 to 49 and S$8,450 at 50 to 59, in June 2025.
What do fresh graduates earn?
Graduates of the related degrees had median gross starting pay of S$3,800 to S$4,490 a month in MOE's 2025 survey. The highest was SUTD, Architecture and Sustainable Design.
What is the difference between a building architect and an architectural draughtsperson?
Building architect designs commercial, industrial, institutional, residential and recreational buildings and plans and monitors their construction, maintenance and rehabilitation. Architectural draughtsperson specialises in preparing working drawings from architectural sketches and detailed specifications for the construction of buildings. In June 2025 the median gross monthly wage was S$6,051 for building architects and S$4,785 for architectural draughtspersons (MOM; definitions from SSOC 2024).
Where do these figures come from?
From MOM's Occupational Wages 2025, which covers full-time resident employees in private firms with at least 25 staff, as at June 2025. Gross wages include allowances and overtime but not bonuses or employer CPF.
Related guides
Sources
MOM Occupational Wages 2025 and MOE Graduate Employment Survey 2025
- MOM, Occupational Wages 2025, Tables 1 to 4. June 2025, released 30 June 2026. SSOC 21610, 31184. Exact cells are listed under each table.
- MOE, NUS GES 2025. Bachelor of Landscape Architecture.
- MOE, SUTD GES 2025. Bachelor of Science (Architecture and Sustainable Design).
- MOM, Coverage and Methodology 2025.
- ILO generative AI exposure index 2025, matched to SSOC through the SingStat correspondence table.