What is in this eBook?
We are pleased to present the third edition of the Pittsburgh Equity in Architecture Report. The first edition, published in 2019, provided valuable insights and served as a free resource for the Pittsburgh community. In 2023, we refined the survey to enhance its informational value, taking into account the diverse challenges and opportunities that COVID-19 presented to the architectural profession.
This edition includes a comparison of the 2025 results with those from 2019 and 2023, offering a comprehensive view of trends and changes over time.
Each story contains :
Data for Architects AND Designers
Salary breakouts by job title/years of experience
Hybrid Work Stats
Top 5 benefits people WANT
Average hours/week worked
...and more!
Questions Asked
What is the zip code of your office location?
(Only used to confirm participants were from our region)
What is your gender?
What is your ethnicity?
What is your age?
What are your total number of years’ experience in the architectural field?
How many office locations does your company have?
What type of company do you work for?
What is your current salary (excluding bonuses)?
How do you feel about your salary?
Do you typically get a yearly bonus?
What does your typical work week look like with the number of days in the office?
If you could choose, how many days would you like to be in the office?
How many hours do you typically work per week?
How do you feel about your work-life balance?
What are the top 5 benefits you look for in a company?
Are you an architect/architectural staff, or interior designer taking this survey?
Survey questions for Architects / Architectural Staff only:
Are you a licensed Architect?
What is your current job title?
Since graduating from college, how many years did it take you to become a licensed architect?
Survey questions for Designers only:
How many interior designers are in your local office?
What is your current job title?
Are you NCIDQ certified?
Does your firm encourage being NCIDQ certified?
Do you feel interior designers are equally represented in leadership positions within your firm?
Do you feel that your role expands beyond material selection as a decision maker in project overall design concept?
The Researcher
Katelyn Rossier, AIA, CDT, NCARB, LSSBB
Hello! I'm Katelyn, a licensed architect with a deep passion for mentoring, which led her to create mentorDINO.
After witnessing the strain on middle and senior-level staff balancing project workloads and training younger professionals, she recognized the need for better support. mentorDINO offers practical training solutions to alleviate that pressure, helping firms of all sizes and young professionals nationwide develop the skills they need to thrive.
This ebook and stories was inspired from hosting a panel discussion about experiences through the AREs. They were all so different than my own path. I recall feeling so alone in the process and feeling like a failure when I'd get a FAIL. These stories are to hopefully inspire you, guide you, and lift you up if you are down.