Average architect salaries by region in the United States: A data-based comparison

Average architect salaries by region in the United States vary substantially between coastal metropolitan markets, major interior cities, and lower-cost labor markets. The national reference point is a 2024 median annual wage of $96,690, but regional comparisons require attention to occupation definitions, licensure, experience, firm size, and the difference between employee wages and reported job-posting salaries. 2

National benchmarks for interpreting regional pay

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $96,690 for architects in May 2024, equal to $46.49 per hour. Its occupational measure covers architects and is intended as a consistent national benchmark, making it more suitable for broad comparisons than figures that combine different job titles or compensation methods. The same source reports 123,600 architect jobs in 2024 and projects 4 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034. 2

Other estimates produce different national averages because they measure different populations. Indeed reports an average base salary of $113,293 based on 2,300 job-posting salaries collected over the prior 36 months, while AIAS reports an average of $93,599 and a range extending from roughly $60,008 at the lower 10 percent to $139,901 at the upper 10 percent. These figures are informative, but they should not be combined into one regional average. 5 6

West Coast and western metropolitan markets

Western markets generally appear among the higher-paying areas in the available research, particularly where construction activity, specialized practice, and living costs are elevated. The provided research identifies California and Washington as consistently high-paying states, while Indeed lists San Francisco at $147,842 per year and Los Angeles at $116,657. AIAS reports California at $101,087 and Washington at $111,875, illustrating how state and city measures can differ considerably. 5 6

High nominal pay does not necessarily translate into greater purchasing power. The research specifically identifies California and Seattle among markets with substantially higher housing and living costs. Compensation also depends on whether the employee is an unlicensed designer, licensed architect, project architect, or senior manager. A citywide average can therefore conceal differences caused by professional credentials, project specialization, firm scale, and the concentration of large employers. 3

Northeast and Washington, D.C. region

The Northeast and the District of Columbia are also associated with strong architect compensation. The research names New York, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. among the higher-paying markets. Indeed reports Washington, D.C. at $148,001 per year, the highest city figure in its supplied comparison, while New York is listed at $96,280. AIAS reports New York at $105,128. The gap demonstrates why city, state, and occupational datasets should be kept separate. 5 6

New York and Washington, D.C. also contain varied employer and project environments, including public, commercial, institutional, and specialized work. Salary outcomes may differ by licensing status, years of experience, firm type, and responsibility for project delivery. A senior architect or project manager cannot be directly compared with an entry-level architectural designer simply because both appear under an architect-related job title. 3 8

Midwest compensation patterns

Midwestern salaries are generally lower on average than those in coastal metropolitan regions, although Chicago remains a major employment center. Indeed reports Chicago at $112,013 per year, placing it above the national BLS median even though the broader regional pattern is more varied. This contrast shows that metropolitan demand and employer concentration can produce compensation levels that do not mirror a region’s overall cost structure or statewide average. 5

Regional comparisons are especially sensitive to sample composition in the Midwest. A dataset containing large commercial firms, healthcare specialists, or senior project leaders may produce a higher average than one dominated by smaller practices and early-career staff. The AIA’s 2025 compensation report records data for 13,227 positions from 817 firms across 34 states, with comparisons organized by region, firm size, and role. 1

Southern markets and major interior cities

The South generally reports lower architect salaries than the highest-paying coastal markets, but major urban centers remain significant employment locations. Indeed lists Dallas at $111,483, Austin at $108,567, and Atlanta at $102,303. These figures are job-market estimates rather than official BLS medians, and they should be read as indicators of reported hiring compensation rather than a complete census of architect earnings. 5

Differences within the South can reflect project mix, firm size, local construction demand, and professional seniority. The research identifies healthcare, infrastructure, technology facilities, sustainable design, and other specialized areas as fields that may command higher compensation than general architectural practice. It also notes that BLS figures exclude self-employed architects, which can limit comparisons with principals and solo practitioners. 3 7

How to compare regional salary data responsibly

The most reliable comparison uses the same occupation definition, reference year, geographic level, and wage statistic for every location. BLS state and metropolitan estimates are designed for that purpose, while CareerOneStop provides low, median, and high wage measures for architects. Indeed, Glassdoor, Payscale, ZipRecruiter, and similar services may rely on postings, employee submissions, or modeled estimates, so their averages can differ without either figure being automatically incorrect. 7 8

Several market frictions affect the practical meaning of a regional average. Licensure, internship experience, firm ownership, benefits, overtime arrangements, and specialized responsibilities can materially change total compensation. AIA’s report covers salaries, benefits, professional development, and workplace practices, while its small-firm research includes 405 sole proprietorships and small firms and 994 full-time staff members. These differences make role-specific and firm-specific context essential. 1 3

Key conclusions from the regional evidence

The supplied city estimates place Washington, D.C. and San Francisco at the top of the listed metropolitan figures, followed by Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Atlanta, and New York. State estimates from AIAS place Washington, Florida, Colorado, New York, and California among its highest-paying states. Because these sources use different methods and dates, the rankings describe reported market signals rather than a single authoritative league table. 5 6

The central conclusion is that location matters, but it is only one compensation variable. Coastal and federal markets may offer higher nominal salaries, while Midwest and Southern markets can offer different cost and employment conditions. A sound evaluation should compare base pay with benefits, living costs, licensing requirements, career level, and firm structure, while treating averages as historical benchmarks rather than guaranteed outcomes for an individual architect. 2 3

Sources

1. American Institute of Architects, AIA Compensation & Benefits Report: https://www.aia.org/resource-center/aia-compensation-benefits-report
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Architects Occupational Outlook Handbook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/architects.htm
3. ArchitectureCourses.org, Architect Salary in the United States: https://www.architecturecourses.org/learn/architect-salary-united-states
4. Archinect, Architecture Salary Poll: https://salaries.archinect.com/poll/results
5. Indeed, Architect salary in United States: https://www.indeed.com/career/architect/salaries
6. AIAS Career Center, Architect Salary: https://careers.aias.org/salary/architect
7. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Architects, Except Landscape and Naval: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes171011.htm
8. CareerOneStop, Architects, Except Landscape and Naval: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Architects%2C%20Except%20Landscape%20and%20Naval&onetcode=17101100