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Architect Salary & Career Insights
What is the average salary for an architect in the United States?
Our salary data comes from BLS.gov. Salary data above is the median annual wage.
Job Outlook & Work Environment
Job Outlook
🚀 127,300; estimated number of architect jobs. It is estimated that 9,900 new jobs will be added by 2033.
☀️ The projected job outlook is expected to grow at a rate of 8% which is faster than the growth of the average career.
Work Environment
💼 Most architects mostly work in offices, but some will visit construction sites.
🏢 75% of architects work in architectural, engineering, and related services.
Architect Salary in Comparison to Patent Law Salaries
How Does an Architect Salary Stack Up?
The average architect salary is $93K annually. While we don’t have an average salary for design patent practitioners yet since this is a new class of practitioner, patent agents typically earn $130K annually. This is over $35K more than the average architect. Patent attorneys typically earn $185K annually which is around double what the typical architect earns. It will likely pay for an architect to sit for the patent bar exam and start a patent law career.
Top Architect Salaries by Industry
Industry | Average Salary |
---|---|
Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $173,000 |
Insurance Carriers | $152,320 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | $151,270 |
Land Subdivision | $150,170 |
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $148,870 |
Salary by Architect Industry
In the U.S., the average architect salary is $93,310.
Architects working in the nondepository credit intermediation industry earn the highest average salary at $173,000. Those employed by insurance carriers receive an average salary of $152,320, while those in scientific research and development services earn $151,270. In the land subdivision and management, scientific, and technical consulting services industries, architects earn average salaries of $150,170 and $148,870, respectively.
Experience & Education
Here are some typical daily activities of an architect:
- Working with Computers: Utilize computers and systems for programming, software writing, setting up functions, data entry, or processing information.
- Drafting and Specifying Technical Devices: Create documentation, instructions, drawings, or specifications for building, assembling, modifying, maintaining, or using devices, parts, equipment, or structures.
- Thinking Creatively: Innovate by developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Getting Information: Gather information by observing, receiving, and extracting from all relevant sources.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Evaluate information and results to identify and implement the best solutions.
Here are the typical skills you need to work as an architect:
- Critical Thinking: Apply logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses in solutions, conclusions, or problem-solving approaches.
- Operations Analysis: Examine needs and product requirements to develop a design.
- Reading Comprehension: Grasp the meaning of sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Speaking: Communicate information effectively to others.
- Active Listening: Focus completely on others, understand their points, ask relevant questions, and refrain from interrupting inappropriately.
Knowledge required to work as an architect:
- Design: Understand design techniques, tools, and principles to create detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Building and Construction: Know the materials, methods, and tools for building or repairing houses, buildings, and structures like highways and roads.
- Public Safety and Security: Familiarity with equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies for security operations to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
- Engineering and Technology: Apply engineering science and technology principles, techniques, and tools in designing and producing goods and services.
- Computers and Electronics: Understand circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Top Architect Salaries by Location
Factors that Impact Pay
Architects in San Francisco, CA, earn the highest average salary among the cities listed, at $136,770. San Jose, CA, follows closely with an average salary of $136,190. In Vallejo, CA, Foley, AL, and Modesto, CA, architects receive average salaries of $128,060, $127,990, and $123,720, respectively.
Architects in California earn the highest average salary among the states listed, at $120,780. The District of Columbia follows with an average salary of $115,230, while Wyoming offers $114,810. In Alaska and Nevada, architects receive average salaries of $111,150 and $110,780, respectively.
Take a look at the average architect salaries from top-paying cities according to Bls.gov data.
City | Average Salary |
---|---|
San Francisco, CA | $136,770 |
San Jose, CA | $136,190 |
Vallejo, CA | $128,060 |
Foley, AL | $127,990 |
Modesto, CA | $123,720 |
Look at the average architect salaries from top-paying states according to Bls.gov data.
State | Average Salary |
---|---|
California | $120,780 |
District of Columbia | $115,230 |
Wyoming | $114,810 |
Alaska | $111,150 |
Nevada | $110,780 |
Related Careers
Patent Agent
Patent agents practice patent law before the USPTO.
Average of $130,168/year
Patent Attorney
Patent attorneys can practice patent law in addition to practicing law in jurisdictions where they are currently admitted.
Average of $185,351/year
Industrial Designer
Design and develop manufactured products by creating functional and appealing designs.
Average of $76,250/year