New data highlights trends in ownership value, non-compete agreements, and leadership investment across the AEC industry.
Zweig Group, the leading provider of management consulting, research, and education for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, has released the 2026 Principals, Partners + Owners Report of AEC Firms. This comprehensive study examines the roles, responsibilities, compensation, and ownership structures of top leaders across architecture, engineering, planning, construction, and environmental consulting firms in the United States.
The report provides an in-depth look at the realities of ownership and leadership within AEC firms, offering valuable benchmarks on compensation, stock ownership, employment agreements, career paths, and the challenges principals face as they guide their organizations.
Among the key findings from the 2026 report:
- Ownership value continues to grow. Eighty-seven percent of principals say their investment in their firm is worth more than they originally paid for it, reinforcing the long-term value of ownership in the AEC industry.
- Non-compete agreements on the rise. Forty-six percent of respondents report being bound by a non-compete agreement in 2026, up from 38% in 2025.
- Strong career loyalty among firm leaders. Most principals report having only two to three post-graduate employers, consistent with trends seen in the past three years of the report.
- Principals acquiring larger ownership stakes. The median stock ownership purchased by firm owners increased from 16% in 2025 to 25% in 2026, highlighting a trend toward acquiring a larger stake upon becoming a principal.
In addition to these trends, the report explores principal compensation and benefits, employment agreements and stock buyback provisions, how firm leaders spend their time, and the qualifications and career paths that lead to ownership.
Zweig Group’s research reports are widely used by firm leaders to benchmark performance, inform ownership transition planning, and better understand the evolving dynamics of leadership in the AEC industry.
The 2026 Principals, Partners + Owners Report of AEC Firms is now available.