Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary by state
Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
Top skills:SpeakingReading ComprehensionOperations AnalysisCritical ThinkingWritingActive Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay by experience level
Entry level$64,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$80,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$103,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$131,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$167,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3.9%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
7,800
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
94,960 workers
$109,000
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
92,180 workers
$108,500
Construction of Buildings
3,820 workers
$107,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
3,430 workers
$123,500
Residential Building Construction
2,240 workers
$104,000
Specialized Design Services
1,710 workers
$111,000
Nonresidential Building Construction
1,580 workers
$111,500
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
1,570 workers
$124,000
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,120 workers
$129,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
840 workers
$138,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pays 2% above the average across 59 roles in the Architecture and Engineering job family (family average $108,000).
Similar-paying roles in Architecture and Engineering
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Architects, Except Landscape and Naval make?
The average base salary for a Architects, Except Landscape and Naval in the United States is $110,000 per year, or about $52.88 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $80,500 and $131,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Architecture and Engineering roles?
The Architecture and Engineering job family averages $108,000 across 59 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.