Building Designer
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Snapshot
Median salary
A$119,900
Full-time annual
People employed
14,000
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
No shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Creates concepts, designs and detailed documentation for buildings, renovations and extensions in consultation with builders, clients and consultants.
Alternative titles
Architectural Associate · Architectural Draftsperson
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Consults with builders, clients and consultants to understand design requirements and gather feedback on building designs
- Prepares initial design models for engineering and estimation purposes using BIM
- Takes measurements and dimensions, and performs other routine calculations for building or renovation design layouts
- Provides design recommendations to clients based on factors such as budget, building site constraints, and overall feasibility
- Produces architectural documentation for sketch design and to support applications to councils
- Prepares building designs, models, concepts and estimations using CAD, 3D modelling and BIM software
- Ensures building, renovation and extension designs comply with regulations and standards, and client, certifier and consultant requirements
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
25%
Female rate
30%
Median age
40
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+8%
6,952 projected jobs
to 2035
+14%
11,940 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 2
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing may be required.
Official VET pathways
Diploma of Building Design
Occupation ready
Certificate IV in Kitchen and Bathroom Design
Occupation ready
Certificate IV in Residential Drafting
Progression pathway
Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Progression pathway
Advanced Diploma of Building Design
Specialised training
Graduate Diploma of Building Design
Specialised training
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
666
ACT · May 2026
29
VIC · May 2026
417
NT · May 2026
19
SA · May 2026
127
NSW · May 2026
649
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Building Designer.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Perth - North West
3,340 estimated employed
- 1
Perth - North West
3,340 employed
WA
+6.88%
year on year
- 2
Sydney - Inner South West
2,435 employed
NSW
+0.33%
year on year
- 3
Perth - South West
2,430 employed
WA
+22.67%
year on year
- 4
Gold Coast
2,297 employed
QLD
-8.49%
year on year
- 5
Melbourne - West
2,266 employed
VIC
-4.83%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
14,470
Moved in from another occupation
1,905
Moved to another occupation
1,370
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
5
points
- 2
4
points
- 3
3
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 312132
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: estimate.