CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for architectural services firms in Texas
1,641 architectural services firms operated in Texas in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,641CBP 2023
- Employees
- 16,005mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 5.2U.S. 6.7
- State rank
- 4th of 51by count
How many architectural services firms operate in Texas
Texas had 1,641 architectural services firms in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 541310, Architectural Services). They employed 16,005 people in mid-March and reported $1.6 billion in annual payroll. That is the 4th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Architectural services firms make up 0.24% of the 670,878 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Texas has 5.2 architectural services firms, 21.8% below the national rate of 6.7. The average establishment has 9.8 employees against 8.3 nationally. Payroll per employee is $101,468, 2.8% above the U.S. figure of $98,717.
| Measure | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,641 | 22,805 |
| Mid-March employees | 16,005 | 189,468 |
| Annual payroll | $1,624,000,000 | $18,703,680,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 9.8 | 8.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $101,468 | $98,717 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 5.2 | 6.7 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Architectural services firms by metro area in Texas
Census published architecture firm counts for 25 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Texas. The largest is Dallas, TX, with 552 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 98% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 552 | 6,783 | 6.6 |
| Houston, TX | 371 | 3,998 | 4.8 |
| Austin, TX | 330 | 2,647 | 12.9 |
| San Antonio, TX | 160 | 1,376 | 5.8 |
| El Paso, TX | 25 | 164 | 2.8 |
| Lubbock, TX | 18 | 91 | 4.9 |
| McAllen, TX | 17 | 145 | 1.9 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 17 | 96 | 3.8 |
| College Station, TX | 17 | 105 | 5.9 |
| Amarillo, TX | 15 | 88 | 5.5 |
| Tyler, TX | 12 | 56 | 4.8 |
| Waco, TX | 11 | 46 | 3.6 |
| Laredo, TX | 8 | — | 2.9 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 8 | — | 5.3 |
| Brownsville, TX | 7 | — | 1.6 |
| Beaumont, TX | 7 | — | 1.8 |
| Longview, TX | 6 | 19 | 2.0 |
| Midland, TX | 6 | — | 3.2 |
| Lufkin, TX | 5 | 29 | 5.7 |
| Kerrville, TX | 5 | 16 | 9.3 |
| Abilene, TX | 4 | 20 | 2.2 |
| Fredericksburg, TX | 4 | 14 | 14.2 |
| Killeen, TX | 3 | — | 0.6 |
| San Angelo, TX | 3 | — | 2.5 |
| Athens, TX | 3 | — | 3.4 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at architectural services firms in Texas
61.0% of Texas's architectural services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 63.6% nationally. 79.4% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 999 | 61.0% | 63.6% |
| 5–9 employees | 303 | 18.5% | 17.6% |
| 10–19 employees | 175 | 10.7% | 10.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 117 | 7.1% | 5.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 45 | 2.7% | 2.7% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for architectural services firms in Texas
Architects coordinate clients, consultants, contractors and permitting offices across long projects. Calls need to reach the project lead, and summaries of decisions help keep teams aligned.
A few of the calls that come in to architectural services firms in Texas:
- A permitting office calls about a submission.
- A contractor calls with a question about drawings.
- An engineer calls about structural details.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are usually not urgent.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
What a phone system costs an architecture firm in Texas
Architectural services firms in Texas average 9.8 employees, so the comparison uses a 10-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 10 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $300.00 a month and 10 on Ooma Office Pro cost $249.50. On Callata the same 10 people cost $199.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,212. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $199.00 | $2,388.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $190.00 | $2,280.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $230.00 | $2,760.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $249.50 | $2,994.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $300.00 | $3,600.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Texas
Texas has 29 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your clients know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 281 | 786 | Central | 1996 | 346, 621, 713, 832 |
| 469 | 786 | Central | 1999 | 214, 945, 972 |
| 832 | 786 | Central | 1999 | 281, 346, 713 |
| 512 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 737 |
| 713 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 281, 346, 621, 832 |
| 972 | 785 | Central | 1996 | 214, 469, 945 |
| 210 | 784 | Central | 1992 | 726 |
| 214 | 784 | Central | 1947 | 469, 945, 972 |
| 817 | 780 | Central | 1953 | 682 |
| 903 | 771 | Central | 1990 | 430 |
| 346 | 752 | Central | 2014 | 281, 621, 713, 832 |
| 956 | 735 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 806 | 734 | Central | 1957 | none |
| 254 | 671 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 361 | 537 | Central | 1999 | none |
| 940 | 506 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 830 | 496 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 409 | 433 | Central | 1982 | none |
| 936 | 422 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 682 | 421 | Central | 2000 | 817 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for architectural services firms in Texas
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Texas, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many architectural services firms are in Texas?
1,641 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 16,005 people in mid-March.
Which Texas metro area has the most architectural services firms?
Dallas, TX, with 552 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 10-person architecture firm?
$300.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $249.50 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $199.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Texas number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.