Autodesk Revit, a building information modeling (BIM) software, is widely used in the San Francisco Bay Area by professionals like Engineers, Contractors, and Architects to create 3D building models. Autodesk’s headquarters are in the region, which also fuels the prevalence of this industry-standard tool. The job market for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) career paths in this region is strong and is fueled by a combination of international design firms, in-house corporate design teams, and tech campus projects. Additionally, the majority of architecture firms and many interior design practices such as the SmithGroup and HOK, use Revit on projects and require that their Junior Designers, as well as Architects, have training with this software.
Revit training plays an important role in many local engineering firms. For example, Arup and Degenkolb are looking to acquire Revit-proficient BIM Technicians and Engineers to help with MEP and structural design. According to Indeed, corporate clients in the SF Bay Area, including IKEA and Gap, Inc., rely on Revit-trained professionals for their in-house design teams. Large tech companies like Amazon and Google have operations in San Francisco and use Revit for office design and data centers. Salary ranges in this area for Revit professionals are on the high end because of the high cost of living in the area, as well as the need for Revit professionals in many key local industries.
Industries in San Francisco That Use Revit
Several industries in San Francisco benefit from Revit training, particularly those in the building and construction sectors. The following list will take a closer look at how Revit is used in the staple Bay Area industries:
- Structural Engineering: The job market in San Francisco is strong for Structural Engineers with Revit training. There’s an especially high demand for entry-level professionals, as well as senior-level roles that focus on high-end residential construction and remodeling projects. Structural Engineers use Revit to create structural systems and ensure they are coordinated with architectural models.
- Architecture: There are currently nearly 5,600 architecture jobs in the SF Bay Area. In the entire state, almost 21,000 Architects are licensed, and an additional 10,000 more are working toward licensure. In architecture, Revit is the industry-standard tool for tasks like creating elevations, floor plans, and 3D building models.
- Design: San Francisco is known as a major hub for design, especially in sectors like product design and interior design. Design professionals work with Revit to create intricate visualizations and designs depicting interior and exterior building spaces.
- MEP Engineering: Mechanical, Electric, and Plumbing (MEP) Engineers play an essential role in San Francisco by creating energy-efficient buildings, high-tech campuses, and commercial developments. As the local construction industry continues to expand, the need is expected to remain strong for MEP Engineers who know how to use Revit to coordinate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems within buildings into a universal design.
- Contracting: Many San Francisco Contractors work with Revit to plan construction projects, provide clients with accurate cost estimates, and schedule work.
- Facilities Management: Revit training helps those who work in facilities management in the SF Bay Area manage existing structures and facilities.
- Transportation Infrastructure: Transportation infrastructure plays a key role in San Francisco to maintain its public transportation systems, like the Muni light rail, cable cars, and regional railways like Caltrain and BART. Revit training is used in this industry to visualize and model various transportation-related projects such as transit and rail systems.
Revit Career Paths & Salary Ranges in San Francisco
The market overview for Revit-related careers in San Francisco is strong. According to Indeed, entry-level Architects who use Revit to create models and drawings earn about $62,000-$72,000 a year, plus benefits. Design Coordinators and Job Captains with Revit training use this knowledge to coordinate BIM models and project documents. They make about $100,000-$110,000 annually. CAD and BIM Technicians create comprehensive Revit drawings and work with BIM files. They earn $65,000-$75,000 as a base yearly salary. MEP and Structural Engineers who use Revit to design systems can expect to make $90,000-$105,000 annually. BIM Managers who oversee digital design workflows using Revit earn $95,000-$105,000 a year.
San Francisco Employers Looking to Hire Revit Professionals
The following employers are interested in hiring professionals with Revit expertise to help their operations:
- Gap Inc. is looking for an in-house Senior Design Manager focused on workplace design who can monitor tenant improvement projects.
- Taylor Lombardo Architects is interested in acquiring a Junior Architect who knows how to use Revit.
- IKEA currently has job posts seeking Retail Store Design Associates who know how to use Revit and AutoCAD.
- Degenkolb Engineers wants to hire entry-level Structural Designers and Engineers with a background in Revit to create building models.
- Gensler, a global design firm, hopes to onboard Interior Junior Designers who know how to work with Revit to create interior layouts and collaborate with Architects.
Regional Building Information Modeling Trends in San Francisco
In the San Francisco Bay Area, BIM practices are being widely incorporated in the construction industry and are especially prevalent in infrastructure and commercial projects. The city is placing emphasis on sustainable construction practices and green building, and BIM software like Revit can help with tasks like energy modeling and energy efficiency. The tech focus in this area is informing construction practices, and project management tools and BIM software are commonplace with Construction Managers. In California, Construction Managers with BIM training are particularly in-demand in San Francisco and Los Angeles. BIM was used in local projects such as the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, to optimize design and construction. As BIM technology continues to evolve, it is moving toward “connected BIM, ” in which a building model is used in all project lifecycle stages to improve efficiency and collaboration.
Revit plays a key role in the San Francisco AEC industry. It’s an essential tool in BIM practices in the city. When used with BIM 360 Design, Revit is a great resource for worldwide collaboration for large-scale projects (one example is the SFO Terminal 1 project). This technology helps teams located around the globe work with the same project model and keep track of any changes to it in real-time. The San Francisco Bay Area is seeing a spike in-demand for life science shells, which are external facilities’ structural frameworks. Revit knowledge is key to creating these structures.
Additionally, as climate change concerns in this area continue to be a consideration in design practices, construction projects are required to adhere to stricter building codes. Revit models and the data extracted from them can be used alongside automated plan review software to ensure all construction work is up to code.