Architect.
Newark.
$114,000
median salary, 18% above the national average
$90,000 to $145,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Newark is 18% more expensive than the national average. For Architects, that shakes out to a median of $114,000, with the full range spanning $90,000 to $145,000. Licensure status, project type specialization, and geographic market create the widest salary gaps. Know the range before you walk in. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Architect in Newark, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $99,710 for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval (SOC 17-1011) in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area, based on 10,240 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$65,500
25th percentile
$77,950
Median
$99,710
75th percentile
$129,690
90th percentile
$168,490
Workers surveyed
10,240
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Architects, Except Landscape and Naval (SOC 17-1011) rather than Architect specifically. The Newark range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such. Newark is reported by BLS within the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-1011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $103,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$74,000
to $91,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$97,000
to $120,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$125,000
to $148,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$143,000
to $177,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $33,000 to the total package.
Base
$114,000
Equity
$19,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $147,000
How Newark compares.
Newark, NJ
$114,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$97,000
Newark is $17,000 above
Architect salary by city.
Salary by role in Newark.
What you should know.
The Architect landscape in Newark is not what most salary sites will tell you. Newark is experiencing a major revitalization, anchored by Prudential Financial, Audible, and a growing tech and startup scene. The city's proximity to Manhattan, combined with significantly lower office costs, has attracted companies seeking New York area talent at reduced overhead. Transportation, pharmaceutical, and logistics companies also have a strong presence. Licensure status, project type specialization, and geographic market create the widest salary gaps. Licensed architects working on large commercial, healthcare, or institutional projects in major metro areas earn 20 to 35% more than unlicensed designers working on residential projects.
Architectural Designers before licensure earn $68,000 to $80,000. Licensed Architects with five to eight years of experience reach $85,000 to $105,000. Project Architects and Senior Architects command $100,000 to $130,000, while Principals and Partners can earn $140,000 to $250,000. In Newark, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Principals and partners at architecture firms often receive profit-sharing distributions of $20,000 to $100,000 or more. Project completion bonuses of 5 to 10% are common. Professional development and licensure exam reimbursement are standard benefits. And on the tax side: new Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75%, one of the highest in the nation. Newark has a payroll tax but no separate city income tax. The high state rate makes salary negotiation critical. When someone quotes you $114,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate aggressively to account for New Jersey's high state taxes. Employers near NYC understand the tax burden and often adjust compensation upward for NJ-based talent. The range for Architects in Newark runs from $90,000 to $145,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Architect salary in other cities.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Architect Salary in Newark, NJ." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/architect/newark
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