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Best Career Options for Architects in Singapore - BIM Jobs Singapore
Most architects quit within the first few years due to the excessive workload, which is not sustainable. A Singapore Institute of Architects survey found that only 7% of architecture graduates intend to remain in the profession long-term. They are looking for alternative career options that may afford a balanced lifestyle, better pay, and the potential for growth. They are working in an industry that may not even be using the most cutting-edge tools and are stuck on 2D CAD drafting workflows.
Architects or ex-architects looking for greener pastures need not look far. In fact, there is a little-known segment of the industry which is rapidly growing. We think that digitally-savvy architects with boots-on-the-ground experience are well-placed to take advantage of this opportunity.
Know Your Strengths
As an architect, you may already be familiar with conceptual design tools like SketchUp, ArchiCAD, and Revit. In addition, you have valuable project experience working with contractors on the field, giving you a broad (but not deep) understanding of a project from design conception to project delivery. Making use of these built experiences allows you to compound your advantages over time instead of starting from scratch. As an architect, you would also have experienced working in 3D design tools that are highly relevant and applicable in many sectors like product design, engineering coordination, and digital asset management.
Identifying Growing Sectors
Now the interesting question is: what are the options that are available to you as an architect? In this sense, it helps to broaden your perspective beyond just the architecture industry. For example, due to ageing trends, there is huge demand for healthcare facilities. The growth of power needs (indirectly driven by AI) has increased demand for data centres, and growing populations are stretching demand for infrastructure like water, roads, and airports.
Singapore alone is tracking infrastructure projects worth over US$95 billion, with close to 80% being publicly funded. The Changi Airport Terminal 5 project is an example of a mega-project that is directly relevant to Singapore—a S$10 billion development that will add capacity for 50 million passengers annually and is set to open in the mid-2030s. Other major projects include the Cross Island Line (US$31.68 billion, Singapore's largest ongoing construction project), the Tuas Mega Port (S$20 billion to become the world's largest automated port by 2040), and the Jurong Region Line opening from 2027 to 2029.
These projects require comprehensive BIM services for design coordination and digital delivery. Without the adoption of digital workflows, it is near impossible to deliver such complex projects on-time, within budget, and according to the design specifications of the project.
Future-Proof Your Career
In Singapore, there is a growing awareness of the benefits of BIM technology in driving design, construction, and sustainability outcomes. From October 2025, it is expected that all new structures above 30,000 sqm will need to have a BIM representation. Failing to produce these comprehensive data models would prevent the structure from being built in the first place. This is a multi-agency regulatory effort that includes key players like BCA, URA, LTA, PUB and more to automate the regulatory approval process for new building works.
Given the importance of these BIM tools in driving BCA's digitization strategy, industry adoption of CORENET X will ultimately drive more demand for BIM personnel.
Growth and Progression
Start as a BIM specialist to handle BIM modelling works, and get exposed to a narrow specialisation. Grow to become a BIM coordinator, and understand the interaction between various trades such as architecture, structural design, and even plumbing. As a BIM Manager, you oversee the overall digital strategy of a project, and work with key decision-makers to drive an implementation strategy that leads to improved project outcomes like reduced cost, timely delivery, and quality projects.
While a typical BIM Specialist can earn anywhere between $3,800 - $4,500, an experienced BIM Manager running multiple projects can easily command salaries of up to $9,500, with a median take-home pay of $6,500. This is a particularly attractive opportunity for individuals who want to manage the digital workflows of client organizations, and focus on outcomes instead of unnecessary hours on the job.
If you are interested in exploring BIM career opportunities, we would like to hear from you.
Thinking Outside the Box
Being an architect does not mean you need to be an architect forever. Take stock and be confident in the experience and capabilities that you have already developed, and apply them to an industry that has a strong demand for your skillsets.
As an architect, you would have already built skills that are highly relevant to the construction technology space. Joining this industry will allow you to tap on your existing knowledge to serve a rapidly growing segment of the industry that not many people know about.
In fact, this is one of the reasons why Bimeco struggles to find qualified candidates to join our team - there is simply a lack of awareness among local graduates on the potential career opportunities in the construction technology space.
How to Get Started
Bimeco is a leading Construction Technology consultant in Singapore, specialising in the implementation of a range of BIM, GIS, and Digital Twin solutions that lead to better project outcomes. We are constantly on the lookout for experienced, independent, and quick-thinking individuals to join our team. If you are interested, contact us or visit our careers page.
