As New England's financial and cultural center, Boston experiences continual renovation and expansion in housing, commercial spaces, and transportation. The city’s role as a hub of American higher education is also evolving, with new university buildings and research facilities emerging. Urban planners face the challenge of balancing modern infrastructure demands with heritage preservation, exemplified by the South Station Tower project, which enhances the iconic transportation hub with a new 51-story skyscraper and additional commercial spaces.
To address the complexities of these large-scale public works and private developments, many organizations have adopted Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, particularly Autodesk Revit. Boston's strong focus on Revit training ensures that skilled professionals are readily available, expanding career opportunities across various fields, including historic preservation, where Revit is used for documentation and renovations.
Boston Industries That Use Revit
-
Architecture: Revit's primary users are architects, who use the program to create, revise, and advise on emerging construction plans. Boston hosts many prestigious architectural firms, including Elkus Manfredi Architects, Perkins & Will, Gensler, and Payette. These companies use Revit extensively and employ many workers specifically as BIM experts and coordinators.
-
Engineering: Several branches of engineering contribute to building design and construction, particularly structural and civil engineering. Engineers are the primary designers on many public works projects and contribute significantly to large building projects like skyscrapers and mixed-use facilities. In Boston, major engineering firms like AECOM, CDM Smith, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, and LeMessurier assist with local, national, and international construction projects.
-
Interior Design: Many interior designers work within architectural firms to shape new construction, but interior design firms also guide renovations and the creation of commercial and workspace within existing buildings. Boston boasts hundreds of successful interior design companies, including Bergmeyer, Eleven Interiors, and Elms Interior Design.
-
Landscaping: Though not specifically ‘building’ designers, landscapers contribute to the external parts of building design, either within architectural firms or as additional contractors. The largest landscaping employers in Boston include Boston Landscaping Company, BrightView, and A Blade of Grass.
-
Government Agencies: Several agencies in Boston's city and regional governments employ BIM software, including Revit, for project planning and coordination with contractors. Local supervisory agencies include the city’s Public Works Department, Public Improvement Commission, and City Planning Department. The Property and Construction Management Department provides construction project management services to other government departments, and the Boston Housing Authority and Public Facilities Department directly commission and oversee construction projects.
-
Facilities Management: Property owners hire either in-house staff or the services of a facility management company to maintain and upgrade their facilities, tasks aided by BIM. Universities, healthcare networks, and real estate managers who own multiple large properties often have internal facility management teams with BIM managers to coordinate their operations. Many Boston-area real estate companies, like Cushman & Wakefield and Lincoln Property Co., also offer facility management services, while some companies specialize in property management, like Great North Property Management.
Revit Jobs in Boston
Skilled Revit users are in high demand in Boston and can find employment in many industries depending on their other training and experience. Revit training can also expand a working professional's prospects and increase their potential income. Thanks to competition for talent and the city’s higher cost of living, Revit workers in Boston earn about 40% above the U.S. average for similar positions.
-
Architect: Architects increasingly need fluency with modern software tools like BIM to stay competitive, particularly as their clients come to expect the sophisticated models, collaborative power, and increased efficiency these systems offer. Architects in Boston have an average annual income of $94,000, varying widely based on experience, specialization, and employer size.
-
Construction Project Manager: Construction Managers lead contracting companies, organize within project management firms, and supervise projects for government agencies. Multiple schools in the Boston area offer programs in Construction Management, including Northeastern University and the Wentworth Institute of Technology. Estimated salaries for Construction Project Managers in the Boston area average around $120,000 per year, with $100,000 or less being more likely for entry-level positions.
-
Structural Engineer: Engineers focused on construction and large-scale structures have significant educational requirements, but correspondingly high demand for employment. Engineering firms, utility companies, architectural firms, and government agencies constantly seek structural and civil engineers. A structural engineer in Boston can earn an average annual income of $109,000.
-
Revit Technician: Revit Technicians (or Revit Coordinators or Revit Power Users), the most Revit-specific jobs enabled by advanced Revit training, install, manage, and train personnel on Revit. Their duties often require customization of Revit systems to clients’ needs by installing extensions, designing workflows and interfaces, and building data storage systems. Revit Technicians in Boston earn an average annual income of $79,000, well above the U.S. national average, thanks to the region’s widespread embrace of BIM technology.
-
BIM Manager: A BIM Manager is an expert on one or more BIM systems, frequently including Revit. BIM Managers are often internal employees of larger companies and may even oversee teams, including other IT roles. In addition to the installation, setup, and training duties of a Technician or Coordinator, these positions involve ongoing oversight of BIM systems, users, and projects to ensure that every employee has the knowledge and access they need to use a company’s BIM systems efficiently. BIM Managers in Boston earn an average annual income of $84,000.
