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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Don't just look at the top-paying city — look at the cost-adjusted column. The national median salary for Architects in 2026 is $99,458, with entry-level positions averaging $71,610 and senior roles reaching $141,230. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $185,127, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Architect sits at the intersection of Engineering and Engineering. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's of Architecture, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is hybrid. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$107,960 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Architect in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $185,127 — $107,960 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($77,167). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Architects in 2026: $71,610 at entry (P10), $99,458 at midpoint, and $141,230 at the senior end (P90). Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The $69,620 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $19,091 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Santa Clara, Irvine, San Francisco) averages $175,236, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Jackson, Macon) averages $79,065. The $96,171 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Architect in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $185,127 — $107,960 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($77,167). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Architect is $71,610, while senior-level (P90) earners average $141,230. That $69,620 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Architects at $126,342 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $103,761) is $22,581.
At the 90th percentile, Architects pull in an average of $141,230. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $71,610 | $99,458 | $141,230 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £42,836 | £59,494 | £84,482 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$62,712 | CA$87,099 | CA$123,681 |
| Australia | 13 | A$72,501 | A$100,696 | A$142,988 |
| Sweden | 24 | 427,997 kr | 594,440 kr | 844,104 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $90,966 | $126,342 | $179,406 |
| California | 61 | $81,730 | $113,514 | $161,190 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $78,789 | $109,429 | $155,390 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $76,723 | $106,560 | $151,315 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $74,708 | $103,761 | $147,341 |
| Washington | 8 | $73,213 | $101,685 | $144,392 |
| Oregon | 5 | $72,397 | $100,551 | $142,782 |
| Colorado | 11 | $72,014 | $100,020 | $142,028 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $71,975 | $99,966 | $141,952 |
| New York | 5 | $71,631 | $99,487 | $141,272 |
| Illinois | 5 | $71,469 | $99,263 | $140,953 |
| Nevada | 5 | $70,650 | $98,125 | $139,337 |
| Virginia | 7 | $70,609 | $98,069 | $139,258 |
| Idaho | 3 | $70,609 | $98,069 | $139,257 |
| Utah | 4 | $70,022 | $97,253 | $138,099 |
| Florida | 22 | $69,956 | $97,161 | $137,969 |
| Arizona | 12 | $69,887 | $97,066 | $137,833 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $69,803 | $96,949 | $137,668 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $68,997 | $95,830 | $136,078 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $68,527 | $95,176 | $135,150 |
| Michigan | 6 | $68,449 | $95,067 | $134,996 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $68,415 | $95,021 | $134,929 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $68,271 | $94,822 | $134,647 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $67,183 | $93,310 | $132,500 |
| Alaska | 1 | $67,183 | $93,310 | $132,500 |
| Iowa | 2 | $67,183 | $93,310 | $132,500 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $67,183 | $93,310 | $132,500 |
| Montana | 1 | $67,183 | $93,310 | $132,500 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $66,265 | $92,035 | $130,689 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $66,176 | $91,911 | $130,513 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $66,168 | $91,900 | $130,498 |
| Texas | 40 | $66,078 | $91,775 | $130,320 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $65,856 | $91,467 | $129,883 |
| Georgia | 6 | $65,672 | $91,211 | $129,519 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $65,588 | $91,094 | $129,353 |
| Indiana | 3 | $65,414 | $90,853 | $129,011 |
| Alabama | 5 | $64,684 | $89,839 | $127,571 |
| Ohio | 6 | $64,540 | $89,640 | $127,288 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $64,496 | $89,578 | $127,200 |
| Maryland | 1 | $64,428 | $89,484 | $127,067 |
| Missouri | 4 | $64,378 | $89,414 | $126,968 |
| Kansas | 4 | $64,227 | $89,204 | $126,670 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $63,958 | $88,831 | $126,140 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $63,623 | $88,365 | $125,478 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $59,525 | $82,673 | $117,396 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $56,770 | $78,847 | $111,963 |
At the state level, Hawaii leads with an average Architect median of $126,342 across 1 cities, followed by California ($113,514) and Massachusetts ($109,429). The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Arkansas, Nebraska — offer medians between $78,847 and $88,365. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($185,127 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $93,498 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $136,699 | 146 | $93,629 | $82,210 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $185,127 | 198 | $93,498 | $108,870 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $141,178 | 151 | $93,495 | $90,747 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $157,974 | 169 | $93,476 | $93,922 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $165,439 | 177 | $93,468 | $98,032 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $171,970 | 184 | $93,462 | $101,627 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $157,881 | 169 | $93,421 | $114,869 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $150,136 | 161 | $93,252 | $89,607 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $137,072 | 147 | $93,246 | $82,416 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $136,139 | 146 | $93,246 | $81,902 |
The $69,620 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Architect career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Engineering sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Architects is $99,458 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $71,610, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $141,230.
The highest-paying city for Architects is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $185,127. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($185,127), Irvine ($171,970), San Francisco ($168,611). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Architect salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $77,167. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Architects (10th percentile) average $71,610 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $133,291. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Architects average $141,230 nationally — $69,620 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Architects can earn up to $262,880.
The top-paying states for Architects are Hawaii ($126,342 median), California ($113,514 median), Massachusetts ($109,429 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Architect involves Bachelor's of Architecture. The field is in the Engineering sector (Engineering), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $99,458 and representation across 288 metro areas, Architect offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $69,620 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.