Architects Salary 2025: $99,726 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$99,726 per year is the national median annual wage for architects (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $48/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $80,040 to $229,250. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 17-1011.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $99,726
- Median hourly wage
- $48/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $108,869
- Total US employment
- 81,180
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($129,640)
- BLS SOC code
- 17-1011
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Architect (SOC 17-1011) is a mid-paying occupation, with a national median wage of $99,726. BLS OEWS reports 81,180 workers in this role nationally.
Cross-city wage variation runs moderate — $75,600 to $129,640 median across 70 cities, about 71% above the floor. The spread is large enough to matter for relocation decisions but not large enough to dominate them. Architect is in the {{category}} category. BLS OEWS captures base wage but not bonuses, equity compensation, or commissions; total compensation for many roles runs meaningfully above the reported wage.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Architects salaries range from $75,600 to $129,640 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Architects Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $80,040 | $99,880 | $129,640 | $179,445 | $229,250 | $66,210 | 660 |
| San Francisco, CA | $78,990 | $98,014 | $126,550 | $163,465 | $200,380 | $70,462 | 3,780 |
| Sacramento, CA | $77,670 | $96,994 | $125,980 | $148,515 | $171,050 | $101,026 | 640 |
| San Diego, CA | $76,130 | $93,694 | $120,040 | $142,435 | $164,830 | $74,931 | 1,280 |
| Boston, MA | $83,220 | $97,580 | $119,120 | $140,430 | $161,740 | $78,317 | 3,930 |
| Baltimore, MD | $68,770 | $87,646 | $115,960 | $148,620 | $181,280 | $101,541 | 1,140 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $73,100 | $88,288 | $111,070 | $138,045 | $165,020 | $110,408 | 100 |
| Anchorage, AK | $60,980 | $80,076 | $108,720 | $127,835 | $146,950 | $85,606 | 140 |
| Providence, RI | $75,960 | $87,696 | $105,300 | $134,180 | $163,060 | $88,191 | 690 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $75,960 | $87,632 | $105,140 | $136,990 | $168,840 | $76,465 | 470 |
| Reno, NV | $64,070 | $80,438 | $104,990 | $130,535 | $156,080 | $98,582 | 110 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $75,640 | $87,052 | $104,170 | $134,350 | $164,530 | $62,753 | 4,870 |
| Denver, CO | $77,820 | $88,328 | $104,090 | $138,395 | $172,700 | $92,278 | 2,090 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $72,240 | $84,904 | $103,900 | $121,035 | $138,170 | $103,178 | 1,240 |
| Atlanta, GA | $71,660 | $84,328 | $103,330 | $150,840 | $198,350 | $104,163 | 1,940 |
| Greenville, SC | $61,970 | $78,418 | $103,090 | $130,375 | $157,660 | $114,417 | 290 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $53,960 | $73,596 | $103,050 | $162,930 | $222,810 | $114,373 | 780 |
| Washington, DC | $75,650 | $86,222 | $102,080 | $134,135 | $166,190 | $66,806 | 3,020 |
| Hartford, CT | $72,100 | $84,092 | $102,080 | $123,430 | $144,780 | $90,657 | 370 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $56,050 | $74,382 | $101,880 | $137,490 | $173,100 | $117,780 | 480 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $64,480 | $79,072 | $100,960 | $120,595 | $140,230 | $95,066 | 1,950 |
| Louisville, KY | $64,510 | $79,010 | $100,760 | $117,760 | $134,760 | $111,707 | 220 |
| Seattle, WA | $73,840 | $84,548 | $100,610 | $115,550 | $130,490 | $67,343 | 2,970 |
| Portland, OR | $74,100 | $84,656 | $100,490 | $116,705 | $132,920 | $77,241 | 1,700 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $66,540 | $80,108 | $100,460 | $135,060 | $169,660 | $82,075 | 410 |
| Fresno, CA | $71,330 | $82,942 | $100,360 | $128,520 | $156,680 | $95,128 | 180 |
| Nashville, TN | $66,030 | $79,638 | $100,050 | $128,430 | $156,810 | $99,751 | 1,270 |
| Kansas City, MO | $61,340 | $76,772 | $99,920 | $133,740 | $167,560 | $104,738 | 1,250 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $56,300 | $73,696 | $99,790 | $130,420 | $161,050 | $98,412 | 1,040 |
| Tulsa, OK | $54,910 | $72,842 | $99,740 | $131,265 | $162,790 | $114,908 | 350 |
| New York, NY | $65,500 | $79,184 | $99,710 | $134,100 | $168,490 | $53,264 | 10,240 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $66,710 | $79,898 | $99,680 | $124,865 | $150,050 | $102,341 | 500 |
| Omaha, NE | $55,640 | $73,124 | $99,350 | $136,000 | $172,650 | $108,224 | 410 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $64,590 | $78,482 | $99,320 | $130,545 | $161,770 | $91,119 | 400 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $62,620 | $77,264 | $99,230 | $127,570 | $155,910 | $104,343 | 380 |
| Madison, WI | $68,860 | $81,000 | $99,210 | $120,960 | $142,710 | $95,578 | 310 |
| Columbus, OH | $62,220 | $76,988 | $99,140 | $133,125 | $167,110 | $106,488 | 960 |
| Tucson, AZ | $64,390 | $78,178 | $98,860 | $110,345 | $121,830 | $103,627 | 170 |
| St. Louis, MO | $60,780 | $75,988 | $98,800 | $119,250 | $139,700 | $109,778 | 880 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $61,450 | $76,370 | $98,750 | $130,805 | $162,860 | $108,279 | 670 |
| Charlotte, NC | $65,690 | $78,862 | $98,620 | $131,915 | $165,210 | $101,986 | 1,340 |
| Albany, NY | $66,450 | $79,210 | $98,350 | $130,725 | $163,100 | $97,666 | 340 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $62,770 | $76,918 | $98,140 | $127,465 | $156,790 | $82,889 | 2,330 |
| New Orleans, LA | $56,280 | $72,948 | $97,950 | $127,740 | $157,530 | $102,138 | 420 |
| Detroit, MI | $62,440 | $76,632 | $97,920 | $122,825 | $147,730 | $102,965 | 1,350 |
| Houston, TX | $60,690 | $75,450 | $97,590 | $122,530 | $147,470 | $101,130 | 2,360 |
| Miami, FL | $60,720 | $75,432 | $97,500 | $115,700 | $133,900 | $79,204 | 1,810 |
| Des Moines, IA | $61,940 | $76,148 | $97,460 | $129,710 | $161,960 | $104,459 | 310 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $61,840 | $75,936 | $97,080 | $129,210 | $161,340 | $92,900 | 170 |
| Birmingham, AL | $63,720 | $76,924 | $96,730 | $153,510 | $210,290 | $107,002 | 500 |
| Austin, TX | $62,160 | $75,936 | $96,600 | $123,415 | $150,230 | $93,786 | 1,120 |
| Orlando, FL | $61,150 | $75,166 | $96,190 | $117,540 | $138,890 | $93,298 | 1,000 |
| Greensboro, NC | $61,200 | $75,136 | $96,040 | $121,135 | $146,230 | $105,192 | 90 |
| Spokane, WA | $62,140 | $75,648 | $95,910 | $110,455 | $125,000 | $98,470 | 180 |
| Richmond, VA | $60,170 | $74,446 | $95,860 | $129,120 | $162,380 | $93,888 | 410 |
| Rochester, NY | $66,140 | $77,876 | $95,480 | $123,740 | $152,000 | $102,777 | 230 |
| Buffalo, NY | $63,130 | $75,930 | $95,130 | $126,995 | $158,860 | $102,843 | 330 |
| Tampa, FL | $59,990 | $73,838 | $94,610 | $125,855 | $157,100 | $94,990 | 880 |
| Knoxville, TN | $61,430 | $74,582 | $94,310 | $112,740 | $131,170 | $104,441 | 380 |
| Boise, ID | $52,110 | $68,974 | $94,270 | $125,880 | $157,490 | $92,331 | 560 |
| Memphis, TN | $62,990 | $75,382 | $93,970 | $121,980 | $149,990 | $111,869 | 330 |
| Dallas, TX | $63,240 | $75,480 | $93,840 | $123,085 | $152,330 | $90,144 | 2,580 |
| Lexington, KY | $58,590 | $72,610 | $93,640 | $112,700 | $131,760 | $102,563 | 270 |
| Raleigh, NC | $64,760 | $75,484 | $91,570 | $128,195 | $164,820 | $91,754 | 790 |
| San Antonio, TX | $59,770 | $69,514 | $84,130 | $109,655 | $135,180 | $91,945 | 670 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $61,280 | $70,152 | $83,460 | $104,725 | $125,990 | $90,423 | 830 |
| Chicago, IL | $60,750 | $69,166 | $81,790 | $106,390 | $130,990 | $76,226 | 4,460 |
| Wichita, KS | $59,640 | $67,456 | $79,180 | $104,395 | $129,610 | $94,262 | 220 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $47,840 | $59,312 | $76,520 | $98,305 | $120,090 | $81,404 | 410 |
| Little Rock, AR | $58,930 | $65,598 | $75,600 | $91,510 | $107,420 | $85,714 | 230 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Architect is $99,726 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $108,869. Salaries range from $75,600 to $129,640 depending on city and cost of living.
Architect salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $99,726, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 81,180 Architect positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Architect positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.