BIM Classes Live Online: Best Remote/Virtual BIM Training

Key Insights

Driven by a shift toward digital project delivery, the U.S. construction industry is rapidly adopting BIM, with an estimated 70% of firms expected to integrate BIM specialists into their operations by 2025, significantly increasing job opportunities.

BIM professionals typically earn salaries ranging from $90,000 to $110,000 annually, with specialized roles like BIM architects averaging around $105,000 nationwide, notably higher than median salaries for general architecture positions.

The widespread usage of BIM spans various sectors beyond traditional building design, including infrastructure projects by state Departments of Transportation, industrial plant design, and facilities management for universities and corporations, highlighting the versatility and applicability of BIM skills across multiple fields.

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Building information modeling (BIM) is an in-demand skill set for remote AEC workers. Many BIM roles can be done online and remotely, though most who secure remote BIM positions usually have some on-the-job, collaborative experience to draw on. Many remote BIM professionals are finding work at larger, international AEC firms, which are leading the way in adopting BIM technologies as countries around the world establish BIM mandates and standards.

BIM adoption in the US also continues to grow and provide remote and hybrid work opportunities for BIM professionals. A recent report from Allied Market Research projected the BIM market to grow to around $15 billion by 2027. Companies continuing to adopt digital construction technologies are fueling this rapid increase in the use of BIM. The increased use of BIM technologies creates greater demand for professionals with expertise in BIM software for design modeling, collaboration across disciplines, and operations and facilities management.

Top Industries for Remote BIM Work

The AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry is the top industry for BIM professionals, whether they work remotely or in an in-person office position. In architecture, the larger firms that operate globally have embraced BIM software. A survey by the National Institute of Building Science notes that 92% of all larger firms utilize BIM, though smaller ones are looking to adopt it as well. This means that these large firms will be more likely to hire more BIM Modelers and BIM Coordinators to work on particular design projects in various countries.

Remote BIM workers frequently work for engineering or construction firms, as well. Engineering consulting firms may hire remote BIM professionals with specialized training to work on electrical, plumbing, or infrastructure models for civil engineering projects. Construction contractors can hire remote BIM or VDC professionals to ensure that models stay updated and to coordinate between on-site and remote team members.

Manufacturing and real estate are two additional industries where remote BIM professionals can find opportunities. Manufacturers will hire BIM workers for project-based work such as creating digital models of product designs. The real estate industry is increasingly using BIM for facilities management, so there are opportunities for remote workers to update building models so that owners can manage, operate, and track their buildings digitally.

Remote BIM Careers & Salaries

While some AEC roles require on-site work, remote BIM positions are available across various roles, and BIM professionals will find their skills highly sought after. Salaries will often be based on one’s home region and can be highly competitive, as many people seek full-time and part-time remote BIM work. According to ZipRecruiter, the average yearly salary across all remote BIM positions ranges from $55,000 to $125,000.

BIM Modeler: BIM Modelers are tasked with using software like Revit or Navisworks to create 3D models. They earn an average of $95,000 a year, which can range from around $61,000 to $146,000 depending on one’s experience, education, industry, and specialization.
BIM Coordinator: BIM Coordinators manage the collaborative use of BIM across different disciplines or departments. According to ZipRecruiter, BIM Coordinators earn an average salary of $80,000. The salary for these professionals can range from around $70,000 to around $110,000 a year.
BIM Manager: BIM Managers set the overall BIM standards and protocols for an organization or company. According to Indeed, the average annual salary for a BIM Manager is $88,000. This salary ranges from a low of $60,000 to a high of $129,000.
VDC Engineer: Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) Engineers are tasked with using digital tools, like BIM, to plan, model, and visualize construction projects. ZipRecruiter's estimates show that VDC Engineers make about $104,000 annually. Most VDC Engineer salaries will fall into the range from $88,000 to $122,000.
BIM Consultant: The role of a BIM Consultant is closely associated with remote work. These professionals are usually independent and provide clients with various services depending on specialization and need. This can include helping set up clients’ BIM protocols, training employees in BIM, and developing custom BIM solutions tailored to their clients’ needs. BIM Consultants might set their own rates, and the average yearly salary for these professionals is $103,000, according to ZipRecruiter. Salaries for BIM Consultants range from around $51,000 to $130,000 per year.

Companies Hiring Remote BIM Workers

AECOM: AECOM is a global construction company. This company has a high demand for BIM professionals across its various projects worldwide. One’s specialization will determine exactly what roles one can apply for, as they have projects where BIM professionals will work on hydropower infrastructure, electrical systems, or help manage and set up an office’s use of BIM software.
Black & Veatch: Like AECOM, Black & Veatch is also a construction company that operates internationally. BIM professionals can find work modeling, coordinating, and managing Black & Veatch’s various commercial and governmental infrastructure projects. Not only do they offer remote positions, but they also offer location-based hybrid work opportunities, where BIM professionals spend some days in the office and some days working from home.
Gensler: Gensler is a design and architecture firm that also operates in over 100 countries worldwide and hires remote BIM professionals. They will likely hire certain roles, like that of a BIM Modeler, who can remotely collaborate with and support on-the-ground teams working on specific design projects in various countries.
Thornton Tomasetti: Thornton Tomasetti is a global engineering consulting firm. They work on various types of infrastructure and engineering projects for commercial and governmental uses. This type of company looks to hire remote BIM professionals to work on specific projects where they can help teams coordinate the use of this software across different disciplines.
Software companies: Those who know BIM and have experience in tech support or software development can also find themselves working for BIM software companies. Autodesk, which develops and releases some of the most used BIM and BIM management software, often hires those with BIM expertise to work remotely as technical specialists or in customer service. Trimble, makers of SketchUp, similarly hire remote BIM and tech support specialists.
BIM Consulting Firms: Smaller AEC construction firms also frequently hire remote BIM professionals to work on their projects. These are opportunities that can be found through regular job-hosting platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, and they might be part-time or project-based.

Online and Remote BIM Work Trends

BIM adoption continues to increase inside and outside of the AEC industry, which creates a lot of growth potential for BIM professionals. One important trend in BIM adoption is how its use is expanding beyond construction. Many companies, organizations, and building owners are now using BIM to manage facilities or a building’s maintenance needs. This can mean further job opportunities for those interested in helping to track, manage, and optimize the lifecycle of buildings and infrastructure.

There is also continued demand for BIM in the residential housing sector. BIM works alongside other modeling and management software to make it easier to manage residential real estate development projects and to customize options for specific clients. Those looking to work in real estate will find this a particularly useful opportunity because developers need professionals with BIM experience to work on their housing projects.

A few other important trends will impact how BIM is used and what kinds of opportunities there are for remote BIM work. The ongoing shift to cloud-based storage and collaboration will allow for more remote and hybrid work, as this facilitates teams being able to work together across different physical locations. Many employers are also embracing the use of AI with BIM software, which can help to automate tasks and reduce errors. This creates new roles for those who have experience working in the area of AI and working with BIM software.

Elizabeth Gleesing

Elizabeth Gleesing is a university instructor and content writer at Noble Desktop. She earned her PhD in English from Syracuse University in 2023 with research focusing on how documentaries incorporate digital and new media technologies. Her research into artificial intelligence, data analysis, and emerging technologies informs her content writing as she frequently works on articles related to careers in data science, data analytics, AI, and related software.Elizabeth also has over ten years of experience teaching undergraduates in universities and colleges in New York and Washington state and won the Syracuse University English department’s Elson Teaching Award in 2019. Her experience in instruction allows her to coherently explain difficult topics to a variety of audiences.

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Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

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Key Insights

Learn More About Live Online BIM Courses

Top Industries for Remote BIM Work

Remote BIM Careers & Salaries

Companies Hiring Remote BIM Workers

Online and Remote BIM Work Trends

Live Online BIM
Corporate & Onsite Training

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Top Certificate Programs

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Virtual Design & Construction Institute BIM Certificate Program (Self-Paced) Sponsored

Learn BIM

Key Insights

Learn More About Live Online BIM Courses

Top Industries for Remote BIM Work

Remote BIM Careers & Salaries

Companies Hiring Remote BIM Workers

Online and Remote BIM Work Trends

Live Online BIM Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Virtual Design & Construction Institute BIM Certificate Program (Self-Paced)
Sponsored

Live Online BIM
Corporate & Onsite Training