Architect Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$97,000
estimated national base salary
$76,000 to $123,000. Last updated September 2026.
Orbyt prices 30 titles at this same figure, including Architect, Retail Cloud Engineer, and Retail Systems Administrator. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $99,280 for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval (SOC 17-1011) across the United States, based on 106,770 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$62,300
25th percentile
$77,960
Median
$99,280
75th percentile
$126,550
90th percentile
$161,420
Workers surveyed
106,770
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$96,690
May 2025 release
$99,280
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
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 national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-1011Highest Paying
$135,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$101,000
Boston, MA
Lowest Paying
$74,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated September 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 17-1011. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Architect salary in the United States at $97,000 in 2026, within a range of $76,000 to $123,000. 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. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 30 titles at the same estimate. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $135,000, while Boston offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Licensure status, project type specialization, and geographic market create the widest salary gaps.
Architect salary by city.
Skills that increase Architect pay.
The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for Architects, not effects measured from job postings: each is a fixed percentage applied to the estimated base. At the top premium that works out to $13,580 a year.
≈ +$13,580 per year
≈ +$12,610 per year
≈ +$11,640 per year
≈ +$10,670 per year
≈ +$10,670 per year
≈ +$9,700 per year
≈ +$9,700 per year
≈ +$8,730 per year
What you should know.
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.
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.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Architects typically earn $87,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Architect pay.
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