Report 2:
Benefits & Bonuses

Report 3:
Gender

Report 4:
Degree

Report 5:
Field of Work

Report 6:
Title

Report 7:
Freelance Work

Report 8:
Responsibility

Report 9:
Overtime

Report 10:
Promotion/Raises

Report 11:
Licensed

Report 12:
International Offices

Report 13:
# Employees

Report 14:
Client Base

Report 15:
Years in Current Position

Report 16:
IDP

***See below for info about TWO NEW REPORTS***

Terminology:
You will note that we report salaries (by alum's most RECENT degree) as a "median". A median is not the same as an "average" or a "mean". A mean may be pulled low or high by extreme data. Instead, median is the mid-point of all salaries reported. In other words, 1/2 the responders earn less money, 1/2 earn more money. We also report the minimum & maximum salaries so that you know the full range. Also, in the data tables, "n" = the total number of responses.

> > Exception:  For the Salary by Year of Degree and Salary by Year of Degree (Architecture ONLY) reports, mean is also reported.  See below.

Sample Size:
Every survey has limitations in methodology, and the conclusions we draw must consider these. Our sample includes only SU alumni/ae who have graduated since 1954, so we will not claim that these numbers are true for the whole profession. We have 697 responses. All data was collected through a web-based survey conducted September 20, 2004 - October 24, 2005.

Confidentiality:
In order to protect confidentiality, we are only reporting information when four (4) or more alumni/ae responded from the same year and/or the same location. For most reports, we grouped responses by year of graduation (in ranges of 5 years) to protect confidentiality. For the Class of 2005, in a range group of its own, we only reported salary by location for Boston, NYC, Philly, DC and Los Angeles combined.

TWO New Reports!

Remember that, unless otherwise specified, all salaries are reported by most recent degree for Salary by Year of Degree. So, for example, for the Class of 2005, you will see these figures:

45 alumni/ae responded for 2005:
Salary Median = 40K, Min = 31.2K, Max = 90K

The person who is earning 90K graduated in 2001 with a B Arch and then in 2005 with a non-architecture graduate degree. So, for 2005, you are seeing salaries for B Archs, M Archs, and all other degrees such as MBA, JD, PhD, MS, etc. 

1. Salary by Year of Degree (Architecture ONLY)

To get a better look at salaries for the architecture profession ONLY, we have created a new report that includes salaries (by most recent degree) if the participant ONLY checked "architecture" in the "field of work" question. For example, if we only look at "architecture" as field of work (but still include non-architecture degrees) for 2005, here are the results.  Note the difference in the "Max", but no change in the "Median":

39 alumni/ae responded for 2005:
Salary Median = 40K, Min = 31.2K, Max = 50K

>> Please note:  To add depth to this report and to "Salary by Year of Degree (All fields)" we are also reporting the "mean", often referred to as the "average".

2. Profit Sharing Income or Bonus Earned in 2004
For the first time, we are also reporting bonus and profit sharing as part of Report 2: Benefits and Bonuses. You will see that almost 33% of responders received no bonus or profit sharing, but almost 18% received $1,000 - 3,000.00 in bonus. Profit sharing as a benefit is already reported by "size of firm" in the benefit data.

How to use this website :
This site offers the results in 2 ways: 1) easy-to-read reports and 2) links to details. Using the bar at the left, you can click on the report of interest. From that page, you can click on "view data tables" if you want to see the specific details. "Top" moves you to the top of that particular report; to get to the next report, click "< back" to the home page.

Most reports will begin with a simple graph, chart, or table describing one aspect of the population that responded. For example, Report 1 begins with a graph showing the percentage of responses from each graduation year. Some reports will then go on to "cross" that information with salary, gender, location, or size of firm. Each report offers an example that clarifies how to read the report.

A piece of advice for using this report:
Find yourself in each of the many tables/reports in order to get the WHOLE picture. Just seeing the median salary for your year is not enough info ---- pull out all of the numbers related to you to get balanced information. Without having details about your years of experience, responsibilities, degree, overtime policy, and benefits offered, it is not easy to answer the question: "What's the average salary for Boston?" This survey will allow you to compare your compensation in terms of several individual attributes.

Accuracy:
You will note that, in some tables, the total percentages do not add up to 100%.This is a result of insufficient data rather than a reporting omission.

Copies of this Report:
The reports for this year's survey and for the 2002, 2003, and 2004 surveys are available in PDF format. You may download your personal copy from the main survey site.

Many thanks to the School of Architecture for its continuing support of Career Services, and to students and alumni/ae who have been generous with feedback and suggestions. This project is not possible without the talent and time of Judith O’Brien, Sherry Spuches, Lori Krom, and Julie Hall at the Syracuse University Center for the Support of Teaching and Learning.

If you have any questions about the results or the methodology, please contact Connie Caldwell, director of career services, by e-mail at cbcaldwe@syr.edu or by phone at 315-443-4937. Our plan is to continue to conduct the survey annually. Your comments will improve the report for next year. Please be in touch!