AIA Releases Small Firm Compensation Report

WASHINGTON (Feb. 26, 2018) – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has produced the first-ever Small Firm Compensation Report, dedicated to the unique needs and structure of small architecture firms. The report includes data on compensation trends and employee demographics at small firms, which are defined as those legally structured as sole proprietorships (regardless of number of employees) and architecture firms with fewer than three architectural staff employees.

Also included in the report is information on benefits offered by small firms, and 23 detailed compensation tables broken out for six positions by firm type, firm revenue, region of the country, and more. To develop a survey to best meet the unique needs of small firms, AIA collaborated with a working group of members of the AIA Small Firm Exchange to develop a new survey that could address the different types of small firms—and to begin to compile a body of reliable and accurate salary data.

Key highlights of the 2018 Small Firm Compensation Report:

• Nearly half of small firm employees (47 percent) have an ownership stake in their firm.
• At small firms, 75 percent of staff are either licensed architects (57 percent) or emerging professionals on the path to licensure (18 percent).
• Benefits related to employee retention and quality of life enhancement are most frequently offered by small firms.

For more information, visit AIA.