Okay, let’s tackle this. So Jim Cording has 44 years of experience as an architect and designer. That’s a long time. Typically, experienced architects can charge higher rates. However, location is a factor. Carbondale, Illinois is not a major metropolitan area, so rates might be lower than in cities like New York or San Francisco. I’ll look at national averages for architects in the US. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for architects is around $80,000. However, this doesn’t account for experience or location. Experienced architects in smaller markets might charge lower rates, around $100-$150 per hour. Considering Jim’s 44 years of experience, I’ll estimate his rate to be on the higher end of that range, around $125 per hour.