I am thrilled to announce the release of the 2025 Pittsburgh Equity in Architecture Report! This is the third edition of our comprehensive study, building upon the valuable insights provided by the 2019 and 2023 reports. As a free resource for the Pittsburgh community, this report offers a deep dive into the evolving landscape of the architectural profession in our region.
Uncover Key Trends and Changes Over Time
This year’s report includes data from 199 participants, comprising 155 architectural professionals and 44 interior designers. By comparing the 2025 results with those from 2019 (160 participants) and 2023 (210 participants), this edition provides a comprehensive view of trends and changes over time within the Pittsburgh architecture and design community.
Ready to explore the data?
Inside the Report: What You’ll Find
The survey for the 2025 report covered a wide range of topics crucial to understanding equity in architecture. Participants shared information on:
- Demographics: gender, ethnicity, and age. In 2025, 17.6% of participants identified as minorities (35 individuals), compared to 15.6% in 2019 (25 participants) and 11% in 2023 (23 participants).
- Experience and Licensure: Total years of experience, time to licensure for architects, and NCIDQ certification for interior designers. Notably, 71% of the architectural participants in 2025 are licensed professionals.
- Company Information: Number of office locations, local Pittsburgh staff count, and the type of company (e.g., Architectural Design Firm, Multi-discipline Firm). The survey data reflects the diversity of participating firms in the Pittsburgh community.
- Compensation and Benefits: Current salary, salary satisfaction, yearly bonuses, and the top 5 benefits valued by professionals. The report delves into salary ranges for various architectural and designer job titles and compares data across the years.
- Work Environment: Typical work week (days in office), preferred days in office, typical weekly hours, and work-life balance satisfaction. The report highlights a strong desire for flexibility in work arrangements, with “flexible workday” identified as the second most valued benefit.
- Designer-Specific Insights: Number of interior designers in the local office, perceptions of representation in leadership, and the scope of their role beyond material selection. Over 40% of Pittsburgh offices reported having three or fewer designers locally, and more than 13% indicated they are the sole designer.
Beyond Salary: Exploring Important Benefits
Our report goes beyond just salary figures to understand what else matters to professionals in the field. Participants were asked to select their top 5 benefits (excluding salary, firm culture, and design work).
The importance of hybrid and remote work opportunities is also discussed, reflecting the changes brought about by the pandemic.
Curious about what the 5 top benefits desired for 2025?
Salary Discussion: Transparency and Understanding
The “Salary Discussion” section of the report aims to bring transparency and understanding to compensation within the industry. It explores salary perception, typical work hours, and provides a comparative overview of wage data for both architects and designers across the 2019, 2023, and 2025 surveys.
The report also uses the concept of “merged mean,” a method used to combine data from the mentorDINO 2025 Survey and the AIA 2023 Compensation Survey to provide a broader view of compensation trends.
Want to see the salary ranges and comparisons?
Thank You to Our Community
This report would not have been possible without the invaluable support of our community. We extend our sincere gratitude to all 199 participants who took the time to complete the survey and to the local organizations that helped with distribution, including AIA Pittsburgh, the AIA Pittsburgh Equity Committee, AIA Pittsburgh YAF, NOMA, Women In Design, and IIDA.
We encourage you to download and explore the 2025 Pittsburgh Equity in Architecture Report. We hope the insights shared within will serve as a valuable resource for individuals, firms, and the broader Pittsburgh architecture and design community as we continue to work towards a more equitable profession.
Download your free copy today!
Written by
Katelyn Rossier, AIA, CSI, CDT, LSSBB