Who's on the clock?

Architects vs Civil Engineers

Side by side: how much of the shift AI and robots touch, pay, outlook and training.

Time card for architects: 45m of an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsTime card: Architects →

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Architects or civil engineers: which will AI change more? AI and robots touch about the same share of the day in both jobs: 45m for architects and 46m for civil engineers. Median pay is about the same: $99,280 and $100,840.

The two jobs share related skills, including operations analysis, management of material resources, management of financial resources, so moving between them is realistic for many people.

Architects
45mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robots
  • 7h 15mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 45mAI mostly does it alone
  • 0mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$99,280
U.S. workers
107,000
Outlook to 2035
+4.3%
Openings a year
6,900
Typical preparation
Graduate degree
See the full time card →
Civil Engineers
46mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robots
  • 7h 14mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 0mAI mostly does it alone
  • 46mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$100,840
U.S. workers
368,000
Outlook to 2035
+6.4%
Openings a year
23,000
Typical preparation
Bachelor's degree
See the full time card →

Architects

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time. 28m
  • Prepare contract documents for building contractors. 17m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools. 1h 2m
  • Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction. 51m
  • Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures. 28m

Civil Engineers

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards. 46m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools. 1h 4m
  • Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications. 52m
  • Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations. 46m

Swap in a different job Highlighted numbers are the higher of the two. Hours are estimates from each job's time card.