Iain Stuart commented:
> Nobody seems to expect engineers or architects to cost virtually nothing.
 
 
As a practicing architect with six years of university and over 15 years
experience, I must reply:
 
Oh *yes* they do!!!!!
 
Architects, engineers, and archaeologists, have similar justification and
payment problems.  In most cases we are called in only when required by law
or building codes, and greatly resented by every other party in the
project.  The building owner or client is often convinced that your design
is intended to cost extra money to build.  The builder thinks you don't
know what you're doing (and tells the client so at every opportunity while
reassuring the client that yes, your design is costing extra), and the
client would like all sorts of extra changes to the plan while the building
is under construction at no extra charge, as "it's only moving a couple
walls a little".
 
It's the rare client who's willing to pay what it actually costs to design
a building.  A typical custom-designed house, for example, can take upwards
of 300 hours to design and draw up.  Few people are willing to pay more
than $ 500 USD for that work, as they know that they can buy a pre-drawn
plan for about $ 250 USD.
 
For comparison's sake:   Architectural graduates coming out of school with
no experience except for summer work (about equal to a field school) may
make between $ 8/hr and $ 15/hr USD.  Registration (at which point one may
call oneself an architect, about 3-4 years and a huge test later, doesn't
usually mean a big raise.  I'm working for a government agency and with my
education and experience, I'm making about what a archaeological principal
investigator might make on a large project, though, so I can somewhat
sympathize with the ongoing discussion.
 
I'm married to an historical archaeologist and know the pressures of the
archaeological profession very well, so don't flame me!!
 
Irene J. Henry, RA, NCARB