Architect salary: how much does an architect make?
An architect in the US earns a median of $99,280 a year, about $47.73 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $62,300 and the top 10% earn over $161,420. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Wyoming, has a median of $120,580.
Architect pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does an architect make an hour?
The median architect earns $47.73 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $29.95 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77.61 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $62,300 | $29.95 |
| Lower 25% | $77,960 | $37.48 |
| Median (typical) | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| Upper 25% | $126,550 | $60.84 |
| Top 10% | $161,420 | $77.61 |
Architect salary by state
Median annual pay for architects by state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $95,990 | $46.15 |
| Alaska | $108,730 | $52.27 |
| Arizona | $102,000 | $49.04 |
| Arkansas | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| California | $108,540 | $52.18 |
| Colorado | $102,400 | $49.23 |
| Connecticut | $103,540 | $49.78 |
| Delaware | $97,030 | $46.65 |
| District of Columbia | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Florida | $96,240 | $46.27 |
| Georgia | $100,420 | $48.28 |
| Hawaii | $102,340 | $49.20 |
| Idaho | $93,710 | $45.05 |
| Illinois | $81,780 | $39.32 |
| Indiana | $96,060 | $46.18 |
| Iowa | $96,810 | $46.54 |
| Kansas | $85,490 | $41.10 |
| Kentucky | $97,680 | $46.96 |
| Louisiana | $79,580 | $38.26 |
| Maine | $78,600 | $37.79 |
| Maryland | $114,550 | $55.07 |
| Massachusetts | $117,330 | $56.41 |
| Michigan | $88,430 | $42.51 |
| Minnesota | $99,940 | $48.05 |
| Mississippi | $80,870 | $38.88 |
| Missouri | $98,490 | $47.35 |
| Montana | $97,290 | $46.77 |
| Nebraska | $91,530 | $44.00 |
| Nevada | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| New Hampshire | $101,100 | $48.61 |
| New Jersey | $99,800 | $47.98 |
| New Mexico | $77,720 | $37.37 |
| New York | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| North Carolina | $95,700 | $46.01 |
| North Dakota | $97,110 | $46.69 |
| Ohio | $94,960 | $45.65 |
| Oklahoma | $100,350 | $48.25 |
| Oregon | $98,800 | $47.50 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,030 | $46.65 |
| Rhode Island | $105,160 | $50.56 |
| South Carolina | $101,550 | $48.82 |
| South Dakota | $102,500 | $49.28 |
| Tennessee | $94,030 | $45.21 |
| Texas | $94,490 | $45.43 |
| Utah | $95,590 | $45.96 |
| Vermont | $82,400 | $39.62 |
| Virginia | $97,680 | $46.96 |
| Washington | $100,190 | $48.17 |
| West Virginia | $96,470 | $46.38 |
| Wisconsin | $98,510 | $47.36 |
| Wyoming | $120,580 | $57.97 |
Highest-paying states for architects
- Wyoming: $120,580 median
- Massachusetts: $117,330 median
- Maryland: $114,550 median
- Alaska: $108,730 median
- California: $108,540 median
The lowest published medians are in New Mexico ($77,720), Arkansas ($78,190), Maine ($78,600), Louisiana ($79,580), Mississippi ($80,870). The most architect jobs are in California (13,270 jobs), New York (10,360 jobs), Texas (7,820 jobs), Florida (5,580 jobs), Illinois (5,130 jobs).
How much does an architect make a month?
At the median salary of $99,280, an architect earns about $8,273 a month, $3,818 every two weeks or $1,909 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced architect pay
New architects typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $62,300 a year and the lowest 25% under $77,960. The top 25% earn over $126,550 and the top 10% over $161,420. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Architect salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Architect | $99,280 |
| Aerospace engineer | $134,960 |
| Mechanical engineer | $104,110 |
| Electrical engineer | $120,630 |
| Civil engineer | $100,840 |
| Chemical engineer | $125,040 |
| Biomedical engineer | $109,370 |
Architect take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does an architect make?
The US median is $99,280 a year ($47.73 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does an architect make an hour?
The median is about $47.73 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $29.95 and the top 10% about $77.61 an hour.
Which state pays architects the most?
Wyoming has the highest median at $120,580, followed by Massachusetts ($117,330) and Maryland ($114,550).
How much does an architect make a month?
At the US median of $99,280 a year, about $8,273 a month or $3,818 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level architect make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $62,300 a year and the lowest 25% under $77,960, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of architects make?
The top 10% earn over $161,420 a year; the top 25% earn over $126,550.
How much does an architect make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $108,540 in California, $94,490 in Texas, $96,240 in Florida, $99,280 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 17-1011, “Architects, Except Landscape and Naval”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. Note: BLS counts only employees, not self-employed architects or business owners, whose income can be quite different. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.