Architectural Engineering Technologies
What Architectural Engineering Technologies Graduates Do
Your career begins by translating ideas into buildable reality. As an architectural or civil drafter, you’ll spend your days using software like AutoCAD and Revit to create the detailed technical drawings and 3D models for buildings, roads, and bridges. You’ll be the crucial link between an engineer’s calculations and the construction crew on the ground. Alternatively, you could work as a civil engineering technician, splitting your time between the office and active job sites. In the field, you'll be hands-on: testing soil and concrete, surveying land, and inspecting projects to ensure they meet precise specifications.
You'll typically start as a junior technician or drafter, but with experience, you can advance to a senior role, managing a team of drafters or overseeing quality control on-site. Top earners often become specialized engineering technologists, commanding higher salaries. While AI is emerging to help automate some routine design and analysis tasks, the core work of on-site inspection, hands-on problem-solving, and collaborating with project teams remains a fundamentally human skill, ensuring your expertise stays in demand.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 15 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Architectural Engineering Technologies. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Additive 3D Printing Technician
RAPIDS 2078HY |
2000-4000 hrs | Hybrid | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Drafter, Architectural
RAPIDS 126 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $53K – $64,280 – $80K | 4.1% |
|
Drafter, Civil
RAPIDS 128 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $53K – $64,280 – $80K | 4.1% |
|
Drafter, Commercial
RAPIDS 129 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $53K – $64,280 – $80K | 4.1% |
|
Drafter, Heating & Ventilate
RAPIDS 133 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $53K – $64,280 – $80K | 4.1% |
|
Drafter, Plumbing
RAPIDS 111 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $53K – $64,280 – $80K | 4.1% |
|
Drafter, Structural
RAPIDS 139 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $53K – $64,280 – $80K | 4.1% |
|
Industrial Manufacturing Technician
RAPIDS 2031HY |
2736-3000 hrs | Hybrid | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Industrial Manufacturing Technician (Alternate Title: Manafacturing Production Techician)
RAPIDS 2031CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Laboratory Asst, Metallurgical
RAPIDS 621 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Non-Destructive Tester
RAPIDS 1010 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Non-Destructive Tester
RAPIDS 1010CL |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Nondestructive Testing (Ndt) (Existing Title: Non-Destructive Tester) (Military Only)
RAPIDS 1010R |
5920 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Optics Manufacturing Technician
RAPIDS 2045CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Welding Technician
RAPIDS 498 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Architectural Engineering Technologies
3 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY |
58 55–61 |
$80,544/yr | 36.0x |
| 2 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI |
58 53–61 |
$48,848/yr | 56.0x |
| 3 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI |
57 54–60 |
$44,840/yr | 57.1x |
Highest Earning Architectural Engineering Technologies Programs
Schools where Architectural Engineering Technologies graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Kentucky University | $80,544/yr | 58 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | $48,848/yr | 58 |
| Northcentral Technical College | $44,840/yr | 57 |
Best ROI for Architectural Engineering Technologies
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Architectural Engineering Technologies.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northcentral Technical College | 57.1x | $44,840/yr | 57 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | 56.0x | $48,848/yr | 58 |
| Northern Kentucky University | 36.0x | $80,544/yr | 58 |
Related Majors
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Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Architectural Engineering Technologies degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.