Revit is BIM software primarily used in Seattle’s architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. According to the Seattle Times, Seattle’s construction industry is thriving thanks to investments in residential housing. Permits for new apartment buildings and single-family homes are up, and a recent report by CoStar, a real estate analytics firm, found that Seattle has been dominating other large cities in the West when it comes to new apartment construction in the downtown metro area.
Seattle’s strong economy and thriving tech industry attract new talent and companies to the region, which drives resident, commercial, and industrial construction and contributes to the need to update and reshape buildings and infrastructure for future use. It is not just the AEC industry that employs Revit and BIM professionals. The tech industry, led by Amazon, also employs these professionals for their own infrastructure projects. Other industries in Seattle, like design and manufacturing, also have a need for those with experience using Revit and other BIM software to design, model, and visualize their industry-specific projects.
Top Revit Careers & Salaries in Seattle
Salaries for Revit and BIM professionals in Seattle are on par with national averages. One’s role and duties will vary by industry, and Revit and BIM can sometimes both appear in job titles. In general, entry-level positions in the Seattle area will be labeled with terms like technician, Designer, and modeler. Someone can start as a BIM/Revit Technician and then work their way up to positions that offer higher salaries and more authority, like BIM Coordinator or BIM Specialist. Those with degrees in architecture and engineering or more industry-specific and specialized skill sets can often earn more money.
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BIM Coordinator: BIM Coordinators manage their company’s use of BIM software, including Revit. They will coordinate with all team members to ensure that models are accurate and the projects meet industry standards. In Seattle, BIM Coordinators make $64,000 a year, on average. The total yearly salary, including bonus and additional pay, for someone in this role can range from $62,000 to $97,000, according to Glassdoor.
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BIM Specialist: BIM Specialists are experts in BIM software who work on maintaining model accuracy, managing BIM data, and implementing BIM workflows. According to Glassdoor, BIM Specialists earn around $71,000 per year. This yearly salary can range from $68,000 to $108,000, including additional pay like bonuses and commissions.
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Architectural Designer: An Architectural Designer is usually an entry-level position and does not require a license. These professionals are in charge of using Revit and other software to create design documents for projects. According to Indeed, Architectural Designers in Seattle earn an average yearly salary of $73,000. This salary does not include additional pay and can range from $52,000 to $104,000.
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Interior Designer: Interior Designers are professionals who use Revit to model and design interior spaces and create 3D visualizations of their projects for clients. They make around $86,000 yearly in Seattle. This salary has a wide range, according to Indeed, as Interior Designers can earn from $57,000 to as high as $130,000 a year.
Seattle Companies Looking for Revit Expertise
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MG2: MG2 is one of the largest architecture and design firms headquartered in Seattle. They work on a variety of projects, from affordable housing and retail to offices and industrial infrastructure. Their architecture and design workforce will use Revit and other BIM software to model buildings and structures prior to construction, and they hire those with Revit experience to work in different sectors of their business.
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HKS: HKS is a global architecture firm that recently opened an office in Seattle. Like many other firms, they work on various commercial and industrial projects, have in-house engineers, and hire designers to work on interiors and landscapes. Given that HKS is newer to the Seattle area than some of the other established firms, this company will be particularly interested in hiring knowledgeable, local talent with specialized skill sets. They are also consistently looking for BIM Technical Specialists for their region-specific locations in the U.S.
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Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA): MKA is a civil and structural engineering firm. Founded in Seattle over 100 years ago, they not only design and plan systems and infrastructure for all types of buildings, but they also hire architects and designers to work on their various projects, as well. They are looking to hire knowledgeable BIM/Revit Modelers to work with their structural engineering team members to model buildings and create appropriate documentation.
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Lund Opsahl: Lund Opsahl is a Seattle-based structural engineering firm. They work on structural design and not only plan and design new buildings and structures but also work on renovations, building improvements, and incorporating sustainable design principles. They are hiring experienced BIM/Revit Specialists to coordinate with their engineers on creating BIM models, renders, and documents, and managing software.
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Amazon: Amazon is headquartered in Seattle and is one of the city’s largest employers, with a workforce of about 60,000 in the region. While much of their workforce will be on the software engineering and web development side of the business, they also hire engineers and designers with Revit and BIM knowledge. In particular, Amazon AWS, their cloud computing platform, hires Revit and BIM designers to model data center systems and infrastructure.
Future Outlook for Revit in Seattle
Overall, the BIM software market is growing as more companies adopt Revit and other software not only for 3D modeling but also for enhanced collaboration, communication, and workflow optimization. A recent report from MarketsandMarkets projects a 13.1% growth rate over the coming years. This growth is based on increasing demand for housing, commercial buildings, and the desire to use Revit and other BIM software to manage projects and improve workflows.
In line with the overall growth in the use of BIM software, Seattle’s AEC industry continues to show a lot of resilience, thanks in part to government initiatives to address housing needs. The mayor and city council in Seattle approved funding for new housing construction, and the city currently plans to invest $108 million in constructing 655 new affordable homes in the coming years. This should create more demand for Revit and BIM skill sets, as these are vital in the design, planning, and construction processes for new residential builds. While residential building looks especially strong in the Seattle area right now, industry reports show that commercial building is also continuing apace, as Seattle’s economy remains strong and still attracts new retail and office developments.