Building Designer
A Building Designer prepares detailed architectural and technical drawings for residential and small commercial buildings in accordance with the National Construction Code and applicable state building standards. They work with clients, builders, and local councils to translate design concepts into construction-ready documentation, typically using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
What this job is
A Building Designer prepares detailed architectural and technical drawings for residential and small commercial buildings in accordance with the National Construction Code and applicable state building standards. They work with clients, builders, and local councils to translate design concepts into construction-ready documentation, typically using computer-aided design (CAD) software. The role sits between architects and construction workers, delivering building designs that comply with planning regulations, building codes, and client specifications.
Are employers advertising this role?
Steady, up 3.4% over 5 years
Counted across a group of similar roles. These are three-month rolling averages of online job advertisements, not filled positions.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index.
Day-to-day
Prepare architectural drawings including floor plans, elevations, sections, and construction details using CAD software. Verify designs comply with the National Construction Code, state building regulations, and local planning requirements. Consult with clients to understand design briefs, site conditions, budget constraints, and functional requirements. Conduct site surveys and measure existing buildings to inform design modifications or renovations. Prepare and submit building permit applications and design documentation to local councils. Liaise with building certifiers to ensure designs meet performance requirements and obtain approval. Produce specification documents that detail materials, finishes, and construction methods for builders. Review building and planning assessment reports to identify design implications and compliance issues.
Who does this now
About 14,000 people worked in this occupation across Australia at the 2021 Census.
What this role asks for
Diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2)
Registration or licensing may be required.
Can employers fill these jobs
Employers hiring for this occupation were generally able to find suitable applicants in 2025. Ratings are not the same everywhere. NT was rated in shortage. This measures how hard employers found it to fill jobs. It is not a count of jobs, and it does not say whether the occupation is growing.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Jobs and Skills Australia defines an occupation-ready qualification as:
Completing this qualification will provide the skills and knowledge to undertake this occupation. Further training and experience may be required to meet specific industry requirements including licensing and registration.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Requirements
The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.
The honest hard part
Pay growth can be limited because you are not a registered architect, and registering as an architect takes a university degree plus years of supervised experience. You do detailed technical work that sits between the architect's design and the builder's construction. Also, council approval delays can drag projects out for months, eating into your time and frustration tolerance.
Where the jobs are
You'll find roles with architectural practices, building design firms, council planning departments, and construction companies. Practically speaking, regional areas have fewer dedicated roles. Remote work is possible for some CAD work, but council liaison and site surveys require you to be local.
Pay
Published for ANZSCO unit group 3121, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.
This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.
Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
Skills
- Attention to Detailcore
- Check architectural drawings on sitecore
- Customer Needs Assessmentcore
- Digital Literacycore
- Negotiationcore
- Problem Solvingcore
- Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
- Report Writingcore
- Research and Analysiscore
- Risk Identificationcore
- Stakeholder Communicationcore
- Time Management and Prioritisationcore
- Verbal Communicationcore
- Written Communicationcore
- Active Listening
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Correspondence Drafting
- Electronic Document Management
- Goal Setting and Planning
- Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
- Process Documentation
- Quality Assurance and Checking
- Team Collaboration
Which of these do you have?
Tick the ones you haveCommon questions
Sources
- ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
- ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
- ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.
Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.
What Building Designer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
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