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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Architecture and engineering occupations

Woman holding paper and overlooking construction site This occupational group includes architects, surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, engineers, drafters, engineering technicians, electro-mechanical technicians, and mapping technicians.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, more than basic people skills were required for 97.1 percent of architecture and engineering workers. Basic people skills were required for 2.9 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of architecture and engineering workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	28.1	71.9
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	97.2	2.8
Working around crowds	<0.5	>99.5
Telework routinely allowed	39.4	60.6
Supervising others	15.3	84.7
Supervisor present in immediate work area	43.1	56.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 56.7 percent of architecture and engineering workers and on-the-job training was required for 74.6 percent.

A bachelor's degree was required for 67.1 percent of architecture and engineering workers.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 12.7 percent of architecture and engineering workers. Another 86.4 percent were exposed to moderate noise, 0.8 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by 22.1 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by 77.9 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of architecture and engineering workers and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 74.4 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 24.8 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 48.8 percent of architecture and engineering workers and was not required for 51.2 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 70.2 percent of architecture and engineering workers. On average, workers spent 69.9 percent of the workday sitting and 30.1 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of architecture and engineering workers with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	70.2	29.8
Driving	41.0	59.0
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	21.2	78.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey