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Architect Salary & Career Insights
What is the average salary for an architect in the United States?
$93,310 per year
According to BLS.gov, the average salary for an architect in the United States is $93,310 annually. The lowest salary is $58,870 annually, and the highest is $151,300 annually.
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.
Average Education
According to onetonline.org, 43% of architects have a Bachelor’s degree, 24% have a Master’s degree, and another 24% have a professional degree.
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