Construction & Built Environment
Architect
You design buildings that are beautiful, safe and useful.
- Starting salary
- R18 000 – R32 000
- Job demand
- Steady demand
- Key subjects
- Mathematics, Physical Sciences
What do they do?
You design buildings that are beautiful, safe and useful.
A day in the life
You sketch and model designs, meet clients, work with engineers and check construction on site.
Skills you need
- Creativity
- Spatial thinking
- Drawing
- Technical detail
School subjects that help
- Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
- Visual Arts
- Engineering Graphics & Design
How long does it take?
4 main steps after school, usually 3–6 years of study, plus practical experience.
Study path
- 1High school
- 2BAS degree (3 yrs)
- 3BArch / MArch
- 4Candidate architect
- 5Registered architect (SACAP)
Ways in: University degree · University of Technology · Professional registration. University is not the only route.
Where can I study?
- University of Cape Town
- University of the Witwatersrand
- University of Pretoria
- University of Johannesburg
- Nelson Mandela University
- Tshwane University of Technology
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
Admission requirements differ by institution, always check the official website.
What can I earn?
Entry level
R18 000 – R32 000
per month (estimate)
Mid career
R38 000 – R65 000
per month (estimate)
Experienced / senior
R70 000 – R130 000+
per month (estimate)
Estimated salary ranges only. Salaries vary based on experience, qualification, industry, location and employer.
How to start preparing now
- • Draw floor plans of your home
- • Photograph buildings you love and ask why
- • Build models from cardboard
Try this career
Design your dream house, draw the floor plan and the front view.
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This tool is designed to help you explore career possibilities. It does not replace professional career counselling, school guidance or official university admission requirements.