Chartered architectural technologists, planning officers and consultants: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time chartered architectural technologists, planning officers and consultants in the UK earned a median £36,457 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £2,582 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 176th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The mean, £44,122, is 21% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
Median full-time pay: women £33,362 a year, men £39,514 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 23,000 employee jobs, 87% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 15.6%, from £31,543, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 51,700 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | £544.60 | £13.77 | £22,996* | £473.60* | £14.02 |
| 20th percentile | £28,585 | £588.20 | £15.72 | £27,906 | £556.10 | £15.88 |
| 25th percentile | £29,616 | £611.00 | £16.57 | £28,548 | £578.90 | £16.76 |
| 30th percentile | £30,117 | £626.00 | £17.29 | £29,560 | £608.10 | £17.44 |
| 40th percentile | £33,231 | £664.00 | £18.05 | £32,709 | £646.90 | £18.23 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £36,457* | £731.90 | £19.19 | £34,951 | £700.40 | £19.52 |
| 60th percentile | £40,674* | £831.60* | £21.94* | £37,831* | £772.90 | £22.33 |
| 70th percentile | £47,382* | £926.80* | £24.84* | £45,026* | £871.50* | £25.17* |
| 75th percentile | – | £1,003.30* | £26.34* | – | £942.90* | £27.18* |
| Mean | £44,122 | £850.60 | £22.62 | £41,474 | £802.00 | £22.84 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £31,543* | £657.20 | £17.54 | £31,199* | £647.50 | 11* |
| 2022 revised | £33,950* | £664.10 | £17.37 | £33,945* | £637.50 | 19* |
| 2023 revised | £36,445* | £700.30 | £19.44 | £33,686* | £676.20 | 22* |
| 2024 revised | £35,887* | £700.30 | £18.33 | £33,071* | £668.50 | 23* |
| 2025 provisional | £36,457* | £731.90 | £19.19 | £34,951 | £700.40 | 23* |
Chartered architectural technologists, planning officers and consultants by region
UK: 51,700 (± 8,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What chartered architectural technologists, planning officers and consultants do
Chartered architectural technologists, planning officers and consultants direct or undertake the planning of the layout and the co-ordination of plans for the development of urban and rural areas, provide architectural design services, and negotiate and manage the development from conception to completion of construction projects and lead on a variety of technical functions and solutions in the design of buildings and the layout of urban and rural areas. (ONS SOC 2020, 2452)
Also covers: architectural consultant, chartered architectural technologist, construction planner, planning officer (building construction ), town planner, architectural associate, architectural designer, architectural planner, building designer, enforcement officer, enforcement planner, planning officer, planning technician, urban designer, county planning adviser, development control officer, planning enforcement officer and town planning consultant (22 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Analyses information to establish the nature, extent, growth rate and likely development requirements of the area
- Examines and evaluates development proposals, consults statutory bodies and other interested parties to ensure that local interests are catered for and recommends acceptance, modification or rejection drafts and presents graphic and narrative plans affecting the use of public and private land, housing and transport facilities
- Develops construction project briefs and design programmes and advises clients on methods project procurement, environmental, regulatory, legal and contractual issues and assesses environmental impact
- Monitors compliance with design, statutory, and professional requirements, administers contracts and certification, carries out design stage risk assessments and manages health and safety
- Evaluates and advises on refurbishment, recycling and deconstruction of buildings
- Prepares designs, building plans and drawings for use by contracts and investigates proposed design with regard to practicality, cost and use
Entrants possess a variety of qualifications including GCSEs/S grades, a BTEC/SQA award, an Honours or Masters degree. Membership of professional institutions may be required for some posts. To gain professional status an accredited Honours degree or postgraduate qualification is usually required, as well as continuing professional development. Chartered Architectural Technologists must join the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and satisfy its’ education, practice and professional standards to qualify via an accredited honours degree or equivalent, monitored and assessed practical experience and pass a professional interview. Town planners are also required to complete at least two years of work experience.
Related
Architects, chartered architectural technologists, planning officers, surveyors and construction professionals (median £47,496) · Architects · Quantity surveyors · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026