Architects Salary 2025: $99,726 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
- Official U.S. BLS OEWS data (May 2025)
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- Not self-reported estimates
$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.
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The national median wage for architects (BLS SOC 17-1011) is $99,726 per year — about $48/hour — across 81,180 workers in 70 U.S. metros in the BLS OEWS May 2025 release. The mean wage of $108,869 sits above the median, which means a minority of high earners pulls the average up — the median is the more honest benchmark for a typical offer.
Experience drives the range as much as anything: the 10th percentile earns $67,697 while the 90th earns $159,375 — a 2.4× gap from entry-level to the top of the field. Most architects land in the $81,185–$130,396 band (25th–75th percentile), which is the right anchor when you size up an offer.
Location matters too. San Jose, CA, CA posts the highest median at $129,640, versus $75,600 in Little Rock, AR, AR — a 71% gap. But adjusted for cost of living, Oklahoma City, OK delivers the strongest real purchasing power ($117,780 in national-average dollars), which can flip the nominal ranking for anyone weighing a move.
Engineering pay rewards specialization and licensure (PE and similar); the gap between the median and the 90th percentile for architects reflects how much seniority and niche expertise move compensation. OEWS captures base wage, not project or sign-on bonuses.
Architects Salary by Experience Level (2025)
BLS OEWS doesn’t publish wages by years of experience, but its national percentile bands map cleanly to career stages. Here’s what architects earn from entry-level to the top of the field.
| Career stage | Typical experience | BLS percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 0–2 years | 10th | $67,697 |
| Junior / early-career | 2–5 years | 25th | $81,185 |
| Mid-career | 5–10 years | 50th (median) | $101,416 |
| Senior | 10–15 years | 75th | $130,396 |
| Top earners | 15+ years | 90th | $159,375 |
Experience bands are SalaryTruth’s interpretation of BLS OEWS percentiles, not a separate BLS series. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and region.
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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Architect & H-1B Prevailing Wage
Sponsoring or filing an H-1B, PERM, or E-3 case? See the DOL prevailing-wage levels (1–4) for Architect, including the 2026 proposed increase.
Architect prevailing wage in San Jose, CA →Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Architect is $99,726 as of 2025 (BLS OEWS). The national mean (average) is $108,869. Salaries range from $75,600 to $129,640 median depending on city and cost of living.
Entry-level architects (10th percentile) earn about $67,697 per year nationally. Pay rises with experience to a median of $99,726, $130,396 at the 75th percentile, and $159,375 for the top 10% of earners.
The median architect earns about $48/hour, based on the $99,726 annual median over a standard 2,080-hour work year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
San Jose, CA, CA posts the highest median for Architect at $129,640, well above the national median of $99,726. Cost of living matters, though — see the COL-adjusted column in the city table above, which can reorder the rankings.
There are approximately 81,180 Architect positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey.
The 90th percentile architect earns $159,375 — about 2.4× the $67,697 entry-level wage. A spread that wide signals real income growth potential with experience, specialization, and location.
No. BLS OEWS reports base wages only — bonuses, commissions, overtime, and equity are excluded. For roles where variable pay is common, total compensation runs above the figures shown here.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.