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Salary Trends for Architects and Engineers in Kenya

An inside look at the salaries of architects and engineers in Kenya.

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Architects are among the highest construction professionals. (Photo: File)

Salaries for architects, civil engineers, and quantity surveyors in Kenya are largely influenced by experience rather than academic papers, a salary survey by the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) shows.

According to the survey, which is based on responses from 65 companies, 84% of companies base their workers’ pay on years of experience.

In addition, 48% consider academic qualifications, while 15% take relevant construction skills into consideration, including software aptitude.

Architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, and construction managers who possess many years of experience are some of the highest-paid construction professionals.

Architecture salary in Kenya

For example, about 30% of architects with more than 30 years of experience make Sh100,001 to Sh200,000 per month. Conversely, only 28% of architects with 21 to 30 years of experience fall into this income bracket.

Professionals with zero to 10 years of experience mostly earn below Sh100,000.

Salary of civil engineer

On the other hand, 60% of engineers with more than 30 years of experience usually earn between Sh200,001 and Sh600,000 per month.

In contrast, 40% of engineers with zero to five years of experience make Sh20,001 to Sh40,000 per month.

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The salaries of construction project managers vary depending on experience and the size of the employer. About 38% of construction managers with over 30 years of experience make between Sh100,001 and Sh200,000 per month.

However, some companies pay up to Sh600,000 for similar experience.

At the same time, the majority of construction managers with zero to 10 years of experience earn Sh40,001 to Sh100,000 per month.

Landscape architecture salary

Landscape architects and quantity surveyors with more than 30 years of experience earn monthly salaries between Sh100,001 and Sh200,000.

Quantity surveyors in this experience bracket can earn up to Sh800,000.

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Individuals with zero to five years of experience earn Sh40,001 to Sh60,000 a month, while partners are paid between zero and Sh300,000 per month.

Owners of architectural firms tend to earn the highest monthly salaries.

According to the survey, 36% of partners make between zero and Sh100,000 per month, while 28% earn monthly salaries of Sh100,001 to Sh200,000.

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About 3% of partners make as much as Sh900,001 to Sh1 million per month, with 5% making more than Sh1 million a month.

A whopping 60% of directors of engineering firms receive up to Sh100,000 per month, with the highest-paid directors making Sh400,001 to Sh500,000.

Partners in construction management firms make anything between zero and over Sh1 million per month.

John Nduire is an experienced journalist with a degree in Communications from Daystar University. His reporting is informed by a wealth of knowledge gained from years of covering construction news.